NIMASA assures continuous training for dockworkers

Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi has said that the agency will continue to train dockworkers operating in the nation’s ports to their productivity to improve the volume of cargo coming into the country.
Giving the assurance in Lagos at a training programme Monday, the NIMASA boss said that it is in line with the regulation of International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Labour Standards (ILS).

Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi has said that the agency will continue to train dockworkers operating in the nation’s ports to their productivity to improve the volume of cargo coming into the country.
Giving the assurance in Lagos at a training programme Monday, the NIMASA boss said that it is in line with the regulation of International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Labour Standards (ILS).
Akpobolokemi, who was represented by the Executive Director in charge of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Ibrahim Zelani, pointed out that it is part of its mandate to train dockworker to ensure that they perform their duty in line with the new development in global cargo handling.
He noted that the second phase of the training programme will take care of 650 dockworkers and will hold in the port cities of Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar and Lagos. The present programme he further disclosed is a continuing of the earlier one done in the past that took care of 900 dockworkers.
The NIMASA helmsman assured that the programme will continue until 7,000 dockworkers operating in the nation’s ports have benefited. He promised that the agency will increase it’s the funding for the programme from the 0.5 percent stevedoring earnings collected from the dockworkers employers.
Speaking at the function, the agency’s Director in charge of Maritime labour Services, Alhaji A.I. Baba, said that a lot of changes have accord at the various terminals in the ports since they were concessioned.
Baba explained that the changes has brought in technological advancement in the equipment used in handling cargo and therefore makes it imperative for dockworkers to be trained.
The Maritime Labour Services; Director, noted that while it is necessary to train and equip dockworkers, their employers most go a step further to provide them with the conducive environment for them to work.
According to him, “Employers do not provide the required protective kits, delay payment of wages among others as was evidenced in the former system.
“That should change as dockworkers should be provided with adequate protective clothing and other safety equipment necessary for the performance of dockworkers while dockworkers should rededicate themselves to service, reduce incidence of pilfering and use the kits,” he concluded.