By Stephen Ubanna
After several years of behind the scene maneuvering, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, currently under the Leadership of Dayo Mobereola, with the backing of Adegboyega Oyetola, a former governor of Osun state and now minister of marine and blue economy, appears determied ‘’to enhance the Seafarers Welfare, in line with what obtains in other global maritime nations.
As a prelude to meeting the set target, the NIMASA, Director General and his Management Team, The Value News online Magazine, was informed has set the machinery in motion to reviewing 16 proposals for amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, MLC, 2006, popular, ‘’Seafarers, Bill of Rights’’.
The plan to proceed with improvement of the Seafarers Welfare was to have been made at a three-day Tripartite Technical Session that had brought together key industry operators and other stakeholders from relevant maritime and Federal Government, FG, agencies, Employers of Seafarers including, Unions Representatives, particular, Nigerian Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, and the international Maritime Labour Partners.
In putting together, the high-profile maritime event in Lagos, the nation’s commercial nerve cenre, Mobereola, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of NIMASA, had said that’’ it was part of Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to improving maritime labour standards and the welfare of seafarers’’.
Giving an opening speech, that was said to have been delivered at the Tripartite Technical Session, by one Jubril Abba, the agency’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, he had confirmed that the amendment proposals is currently under consideration at the National Assembly, stressing that it aim ‘’to align the country’s maritime regulatory framework with the best international practices, ensuring fairness, inclusivity and sustainability’’.
The maritime regulatory agency CEO, who spoke through Abba, the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, could not hide his feelings at the caliber of participants at the event as he was said to have expressed ‘’deep appreciation for the collaboration’’ between the various sectors involved in the Tripartite Technical Session talks’’.
He was said to have told the participants that ‘’ through the synergy Nigeria, as a maritime nation, will achieve progressive amendments to the MLC, 2006, Law, which many believe will enhance the Seafarers Welfare , create a fair business environment and elevate the country’s position at the International Maritime Organization , IMO, level, as a leading West African sub-region , maritime nation.
Giving an insider information, he noted that the Tripartite Technical Session, packaged by the agency’’ is not just about policy amendments but ‘’about fostering a collective commitment to the sustainability of the country’s maritime sector and the protection of Seafarers’’.
He was said to have also underscored the importance of the Tripartite Technical Sessions, noting that the Sessions which had focused on wide range of issues, including the impact of new Technologies, environmental considerations and the evolving needs of Seafarers, would lead to achieving a shared goal of improving Seafarers’ working conditions while fostering the nation’s maritime industry growth’’
While acknowledging the continued dedication, support and expertise of the International Labor Organization, the various Union Representatives including MWUN, and other stakeholders at he three-day event, were said to have expressed their reservations that their contributions at the various Session have been viewed as critical in shaping the future of the nation’s maritime industry, which they had claimed had remained very competitive, resilient and equitable for all, over the years.
In spite of the claims by the Unions Representatives, that their contributions had been seen as critical, the NIMASA, Director General, may not have seen that way. This is evident going by his remarks: We look forward to the outcomes n of this collective discussions that further will strengthen Nigerian’s commitment to ensuring decent work for Seafarers’’.
Essah Aniefiok, ILO Attache, Labour Services, in Nigeria, in his speech had asserted that in order ‘’to achieve the enormous tasks ahead in the Nigeria’s maritime industry,’’there is need for cooperation among all the stakeholders in the sector’’.
Amos Kuje, Regional Advisor and expert on MLC 2006, in his own contributions, during Tripartite Technical event, was said to have made participants to understand that ‘’Nigeria is the focal point in maritime activities in the African Continent, noting that the ILO, recognizes it.
The ILO, Attache, Labour Services, was said to have emphasized the need for Nigeria ‘’to maintain the lead’’, particularly now that the country is vying for the Category C Seat at the upcoming IMO elections in London, the United Kingdom, UK.
He is of the opinion that Nigeria, the most populous country in the West African sub-region has all that ‘’it takes to qualify it to win the IMO Category C elections’, which it had lost in previous elections, insisting that ‘’all stakeholders must work together this time around to ensure that Seafarers welfare is guaranteed’’. He was emphatic that ‘’ the practice must align with theory’’.
Note that 90% of world trade is transported by sea, with Seafarers being the backbone, ensuring safe and efficient movement of cargoes but their employment and payroll management had presented unique challenges to employers due to the international nature of their work.
There is no gain saying that ships have multinational crew members and their employment contracts, according to an insider are subject to different international regulations, including Nigeria, thus making standardization very challenging.
Given the importance attached to the Seafarers in Nigeria by NIMASA, may have informed why the International Transport Workers Federation, UK, had approved a grant to Nigeria through MWUN, in 2024, to build a Seafarers recreation Centre in partnership with the maritime agency.
