.Prisons Service, Seafarers Union disagree
By Uzor Odigbo
By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association have raised an alarm that about 90 seafarers were serving in Ikoyi Prison.
However, Lagos State, the Nigerian Prison Services disagreed on the figure, saying the number identified as sailors in custody was less than 20.
National President of the seafaring union, Matthew Alalade, in a chat with newsmen on Friday ,said that the figure had risen from the last visit, saying that apart from seafarers in Ikoyi reformatory , some Nigerian ship owners were equally serving jail terms for various offences.
Comrade Alalade alleged that the crime committed by the seafarers bothered on forged shipping documents.
He further alleged that some of the seafarers are currently awaiting trial why others have between five to seven months left to complete their jail terms.
While speaking about the union’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, in line with its routine checks on seafarers in prison custody, the National President called on Nigerian seafarers to adhere to the Maritime Labour Convention as a guide for employment, urging that “Whenever you want to sign a contract with the ship owners endeavour to involve NIMASA and representative of the workers which is the union.
Continuing, Alalade re-emphasised that proper documentation of contract working agreement put some of the seafarers at less risk, pointing out that “Except they engage in illicit activities at sea then they will face the music “
According to him, the number of seafarers imprisoned in Ikoyi rose from 45 to the current figure during the union’s visited the facility.
He said:”Some of their offences include no proper shipping documents from the owners to the regulatory agencies as the claimed before they go for loading .
“Some are on trial while others have received judgment adding that “Even some ship owners too are in prison for similar offences “
Apart from seafarers and ship owners in prison custody, the Trade Union Congress Auditor, disclosed that two foreign seafarers from Ghana are in prison.
When contacted on Saturday, via the telephone, Public Relations Office ,Nigerian Prison Services, Mr. Rotimi Oladokun said “Am not contesting the figure with the President of the union but from our records they are less than 20 identified and described as seafarers.
The Superintendent of Prison said” They are being tried at the Federal High Court and we are not the prosecuting agency but from record they are less than 20.
He however, noted that the issue has to do with law enforcement agencies and not the service .
Oladokun reiterated that the Comptroller General of the service operates an open door policy to clarify issues bothering on its roles and responsibilities
National President of the seafaring union, Matthew Alalade, in a chat with newsmen on Friday ,said that the figure had risen from the last visit, saying that apart from seafarers in Ikoyi reformatory , some Nigerian ship owners were equally serving jail terms for various offences.
Comrade Alalade alleged that the crime committed by the seafarers bothered on forged shipping documents.
He further alleged that some of the seafarers are currently awaiting trial why others have between five to seven months left to complete their jail terms.
While speaking about the union’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, in line with its routine checks on seafarers in prison custody, the National President called on Nigerian seafarers to adhere to the Maritime Labour Convention as a guide for employment, urging that “Whenever you want to sign a contract with the ship owners endeavour to involve NIMASA and representative of the workers which is the union.
Continuing, Alalade re-emphasised that proper documentation of contract working agreement put some of the seafarers at less risk, pointing out that “Except they engage in illicit activities at sea then they will face the music “
According to him, the number of seafarers imprisoned in Ikoyi rose from 45 to the current figure during the union’s visited the facility.
He said:”Some of their offences include no proper shipping documents from the owners to the regulatory agencies as the claimed before they go for loading .
“Some are on trial while others have received judgment adding that “Even some ship owners too are in prison for similar offences “
Apart from seafarers and ship owners in prison custody, the Trade Union Congress Auditor, disclosed that two foreign seafarers from Ghana are in prison.
When contacted on Saturday, via the telephone, Public Relations Office ,Nigerian Prison Services, Mr. Rotimi Oladokun said “Am not contesting the figure with the President of the union but from our records they are less than 20 identified and described as seafarers.
The Superintendent of Prison said” They are being tried at the Federal High Court and we are not the prosecuting agency but from record they are less than 20.
He however, noted that the issue has to do with law enforcement agencies and not the service .
Oladokun reiterated that the Comptroller General of the service operates an open door policy to clarify issues bothering on its roles and responsibilities
