The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has underscored the need to adequately protect the wellbeing and welfare of the Nigerian dockworker, stevedoring workers and the seafarers at the nation’s ports so as to get the best from the.
The Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services of NIMASA, Barr. Callistus Obi made this observation at a one day conference on “Review of the of the Port Concession Agreement with focus on Rights and Obligations of the Lessor and Lessee, Role of the Economic Regulator, Effect of Persistent Gridlock on Port Access Roads on the Concession Exercise” held in Lagos yesterday.
Obi who represented the Acting Director-General of NIMASA at the conference noted that he was very particular about the issue of rights and obligations of the seafarers, dockworkers and stevedoring workers as contained and bestowed on the concession agreement because in the operation of the labour component of the statutory mandate of NIMASA, there had been series of complains particularly as it related to the welfare and wellbeing of dockworkers, stevedoring workers and the seafarers.
According to him,” The human element of shipping for me is critical. It is critical because you can never succeed without enhanced capacity for those who man our ships. We have had severally to complain about how our dockworkers are treated, the working environment, that for us is key.
“I will want to take advantage of this conference to ask pertinent question as to who has the right, whose obligation is it to protect the welfare and wellbeing of the Nigerian dockworkers, the seafarers and all those who earn their living within the ports, jetties and terminals.
“For us, it is a contentious issue and I want to believe that this conference will give us the opportunity to address this issue very squarely”.
On the condition of the port access roads, the Executive Director maintained that there was no need to over-emphasize the difficulties faced by the stakeholders daily in an attempt to access the ports adding that NIMASA as an organization was suffering not more than any other agency as a result of the poor state of the Apapa- Wharf roads.
“So, like I said, this conference will also address that because we know that very precious hours, man hours, quality time spent on the roads when as a matter of fact, that time wasted if very well utilized in our various jobs and schedules could impact positively in the sector and I don’t need to tell you how many terrible incidences that has led to loss of lives that happen on that roads. It is not good enough for us, it is not good enough for our country, it is not good enough for the industry and it is not good enough for the image of nation.
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