Maritime
Maritime Labour: NIMASA, MWUN Restate Commitment To Constant Stakeholders Engagement
By Biztellers
The Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, have restated their commitment to continuous stakeholders engagement as an effective tool to maintain the peace which the nations maritime sector have enjoyed in recent years.
NIMASA Director General Dr Bashir Jamoh OFR, and the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju both made the assertion in Lagos at a ceremony by NIMASA to hand over vehicles to the Union as part of the Agencys Corporate Social Responsibility. The vehicles are a 16-seater bus and one Hilux.
R-L: Director General, of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, OFR; Head, Financial Services of NIMASA, Mr. Abdullahi Mustapha; Executive Director Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Engr. Victor Ochei; Head, Maritime Labour Dept. Mr. Aliyu Lawan; and President General, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju. During the presentation of keys to a 16 Seater Bus and Hilux vehicle at the headquarters of NIMASA in Lagos.
Dr. Bashir Jamoh applauded the union for adopting dialogue in ensuring and maintaining peace in the maritime sector, which he said has aided the peace and industrial harmony witnessed in the sector leading to the successes recorded.
In his words In the past few years, the maritime industry has experienced relative peace and harmony, which has been made possible through the instrumentality of the leadership of MWUN. NIMASA is committed to ensuring the union is equipped with adequate facilities needed to perform their duties judiciously.
He also charged the Union to continue to support the policies and instruments of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), towards ensuring a better welfare and decent work for the seafarers.
R-L: Director General, of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, OFR; presenting the keys to a 16 seater and Hilux vehicle to the President General, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju; while Executive Director Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Engr. Victor Ochei looks on. The handing over took place at the headquarters of NIMASA in Lagos.
We acknowledge that you have done so much in championing the cause for better wages for Dockworkers, Seafarers and other labour components in the maritime sector. We urge you to continue your stakeholders engagement in achieving implementation of international labour laws to achieve better welfare in consonance with international best practices for workers in the maritime sector.
Furthermore, the DG assured that the Agency would complete the renovation of the headquarters of the Union in order to give them a befitting habitation.
On his part, the MWUN P-G, Comrade Adeyanju expressed the gratitude of the union to the Management of NIMASA, and assured that they will continue to work closely with the various stakeholders in the sector to ensure continuous progress. He also urged Terminal Operators, Government Agencies and other major maritime players to emulate NIMASA in the discharge of their CSR Projects.
The MWUN President General who is also the National Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress commended the leadership of NIMASA under Dr Jamoh urging the Federal Government to consider a second tenure based on performance.
We will continue to play the role of stabilizing the sector. The era of confrontation in the maritime sector is gone, as we have embraced dialogue, which has ensured sustained peace and harmony. The leadership of NIMASA under Bashir Jamoh has excelled in staff welfare, regular staff promotion, and attending to the needs of stakeholders. Based on performance, Jamoh deserves a second term in office; his achievements speak volume. You made dialogue a way of life here at NIMASA and resolving labour related issues have been seamless under your leadership. We have had good DGs in the past, but Jamoh is exceptional. We have been watching you and we know you have the track record of fulfilling your promises; we charge you to continue as the union will continue to support the humanitarian policies of your Management, Adeyanju said.
The management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has advised International Oil Companies, terminal and jetty operators, and all other companies involved in stevedoring in the country to refrain from engaging unregistered dockworkers.
The information was contained in a statement made available to Biztellers by the Head, Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edward.
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According to the statement, all stakeholders, including dock labour employers and stevedoring companies, are encouraged to apply for new operating licenses or renew expired ones within a 30-day moratorium period.
“This requirement,” it added, “is stipulated by the NIMASA Act of 2007 and outlined in the NIMASA Stevedoring Regulations of 2014, which mandates strict compliance from all maritime operators.”
Osagie cited the Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola as laying emphasis on the need for stakeholders to comply with extant laws and regulations.
Dr Mobereola said, “No terminal or company shall continue to engage the services of unregistered dockworkers for cargo handling at their work locations.
“This move is part of our broader effort to ensure safe and regulated operations within Nigeria’s maritime industry. Compliance with these regulations will enhance our ability to maintain an up-to-date database of dockworkers operating in the country. It also improves our planning processes, as we are committed to developing their capacity to meet globally accepted standards for dockworkers in Nigeria. We intend to enforce full compliance after the moratorium period.”
It was gathered that the NIMASA Act, 2007, Part IX, Section 27, addressed the registration of Dockworkers with focus on Maritime Labour.
“It ensures the Registration, Regulation, and control of Maritime Labour, including dockworkers. The Act assigns the Agency the responsibility of maintaining standards in accordance with international best practices,” Osagie added.
Nigeria has expressed a strong desire to seek election into Category “C” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council.
The Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made the disclosure at the 2024 World Maritime Day parallel event in Barcelona, Spain.
Oyetola noted that Nigeria has put in place the basic needs for the development of her maritime industry in line with recognized global best practices.
In his words, “our active participation in upholding key conventions, such as the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, reflects our dedication to ensuring the safety of international shipping.
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There have been no incidents of piracy in the last three years, as confirmed by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). By deploying resources to provide maritime security assets, Nigeria has solidified its role as a key guardian of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Nigeria remains a valuable source of manpower for the industry. I therefore urge our partners to explore this potential and assist where possible in the best interest of all. Our Maritime Academy has adequate resources and facilities to support this development.
“I am pleased to announce Nigeria’s resolve to seek a Category “C” membership on the Council.
On his part, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, assured that no stone will be left unturned to ensure success in the quest for IMO Category C membership at the next elections.
According to him, “We at NIMASA have met with the IMO technical team and have commenced work on all identified grey areas so that Nigeria can address the gaps identified during the last audit by the IMO.
”We have also commenced the process of effective communication with other member states using the IMO GSIS platform, among others. While we at NIMASA focus on the technical aspects of the preparations, our supervising Ministry will provide the political will to guide Nigeria back to the Council at the IMO.”
Oyetola, who held engagement sessions with the IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez and other diplomats, was accompanied on the working tour by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola; the Director General of the NIMASA; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji; and the Director of Maritime Safety and Security Services, Mr. Babatunde Bombata.
This year’s parallel event with the theme: Navigating the Future: Safety First, brought together international maritime leaders and experts to discuss future challenges and opportunities, with the aim of ensuring that safety is prioritized in the day-to-day operations of the global maritime sector.
The adoption of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model is essential for the infrastructural development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
This is the view of the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola.
The DG, shared his views while hosting the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh.
He emphasized the importance of the Commission’s increased involvement in attracting private investors to develop infrastructural capacity in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
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Dr. Mobereola said, “We appreciate the Management of the ICRC for being responsive. However, you know that the maritime sector is capital intensive and government funds cannot solely put in place the required infrastructure. We need the ICRC to develop PPP based business models that will be attractive to the private sector both from within and outside the country.
“There is the need to streamline processes by the use of technology, as we will continue to count on the support of ICRC to help drive the Agency’s PPP projects for effective and efficient service delivery to our stakeholders”.
Lending support to Dr. Mobereola’s views, Dr. Ewalefoh, underscored the significance of the maritime sector to Nigeria’s economy.
He noted that the PPP model would facilitate increased funding and expertise from the private sector, thereby accelerating the growth and development of the Nigerian maritime sector. Additionally, he stated that the ICRC is prepared to engage with the Agency on its projects and ensure timely execution.
“There is no time to waste; our country needs lots of funding for infrastructure and we need to create an enabling environment for activities to thrive. First, is service delivery, not revenue generation, and people will be willing to pay if they get the right services”, the ICRC boss noted.
The PPP model has proven to be the most viable approach worldwide for driving government policies that promote development and economic growth.
Biztellers reports that as a regulatory agency and Nigeria’s Maritime Administrator, the NIMASA has consistently embraced collaboration and partnership through the PPP initiative to ensure the growth and development of the maritime sector.
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