The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said it will train 1,200 seafarers who are members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) in four of its approved academy.
Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside disclosed this in Lagos at the opening of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria’s National Executive Council meeting and Special Delegates Conference.
He said that the management of the agency had approved the training of 1,200 seafarers.
According to Peterside, seafarers of different categories, who are members of the MWUN will be trained in four NIMASA- accredited institutes in the country in the first quarter of 2017.
The director-general, who was represented by the Director, Labour and Maritime Services; Mrs Juliana Gunwa, said the agency had inaugurated a National Joint Industrial Committee for the review of salaries of seafarers and dockworkers.
He said that the objective was to ensure that Nigerian seafarers and dockworkers earn decent wages and equally enjoy other welfare packages like their counterparts abroad.
Peterside noted that there has been relative peace in the maritime sector, adding that the seafarers and dockworkers have proven to be critical stakeholders in the industry with their professional skills aboard coastal and international ships.
He added that the agency will be presenting a Toyota coastal bus to the union, which is line with the request made by its leaders to ease transportation problem.
The DG revealed that the agency has inaugurated the National Industrial Joint Council (NJIC), for the review of seafarers and dockworkers condition of services.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily on the side line exclusively, Director Maritime Labour Services, reaffirmed that the training would commence in the first quarter of 2017.
She told our correspondent the schools that would train the seafarers next year include: JOE MARINE in Warri Delta, and Charkins Marine in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Others are: Matral in Calabar, Cross River State and Coastal Maritime Academy Lagos.
According to her, all the proposal on the training are in place and by next year, members of the union will be contacted for the programme.
Discussion about this post