The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has lamented the non-compliance of dockworkers and seafarers to the provisions of the Act which established the agency; especially as it relates to registration.
Director General of the agency, Mr Temisan Omatseye revealed last week while addressing stakeholders at a “roundtable meeting on the engagement of seafarers and dockworkers under NIMAS Act” that less than three percent of dockworkers operating in the western zone are registered with NIMASA and that out of the 770 seafarers operating in the zone, only 47 of them are registered on board Cabotage ships.
Omatseye expressed disappointment at the figure saying that “the above statistics is probably an outcome of ignorance or evasion but it is pertinent to point out that fees are not attached to their registration, it is also important to point out that by registering, seafarers are helping NIMASA to cater for them through conduct of examinations, certification and review of condition of their services”
While admitting that by virtue of the NIMASA Act 2007 all issue that relates with international labour organization and all other issue that has got to do with seafaring including the International Maritime Organization (IMO) lies with the agency, Omatseye said that the impersonation of manning agents on board vessels is making it impossible for the agency to cater adequately for them as required.
“The story is the same for manning agents, these illegal manning agents board and crew vessels without certification leading to lack of the data to plan their welfare, this impersonation by agents implies pervasive crewing of vessels by quacks with inherent danger to life and property at sea” he said, even as he disclosed that the agency is poised to ensure compliance and ensure full registration by all dockworkers and seafarers.
Also speaking at the forum which drew participants from all relevant groups, the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria Comrade Tony Nted who was represented by the Secretary General of the union Comrade Aham Ubani lamented that since the enactment of the Cabotage Act, maritime workers are yet to reap its dividends.
“On the enactment of the Cabotage Act, we were expecting an employment boom for our seafarers, but we are yet to realize that, we were promised by the authorities that port concession will bring about greater opportunities for the employment of more dock workers and permanent staff, this promises have become a cruel device as over 60 per cent of the dock workers are now jobless” he said
He however said that the union is expecting a turn around on the condition of service for all maritime workers in the country.
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