National President, Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), Matthew Alalade, has accused indigenous ship owners of having discriminatory conditions of service skewed against local seafarers.
During a parley with journalists in Lagos, Alalade said that the condition of service for Nigerian seafarers was abysmally poor compared with what foreigners collect as remuneration from the shipping operators.
Alalade urged shipowners to encourage Nigerian seafarers engaged aboard their vessels by treating them equally with their foreign counterparts, adding, “if Nigeria wants to have people that will work in the maritime sector in the future to serve their fatherland, then indigenous seafarers must be encouraged.”
According to him, the poor remuneration for Nigerian seafarers in the country has made some of the workers to look for better working conditions outside the country which, he said, has negative implications on Nigeria in the international community.
He alleged that local ship owners cut corners when it comes to Nigeria seafarers but goes outside to employ foreigners to work aboard their vessels with better salaries and good working conditions.
The president added, “if Nigerian seafarers are placed on the same salary as those from other countries, it will bring about a robust and healthy competition.”
The Merchant Navy boss further accused ship owners of failing to comply with the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) arrangement, urging the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to put in place mechanism in ensuring that ship owners do the needful as part of efforts to encourage local seamen.
Alalade frowned at NIMASA’s silence on issues of remuneration for workers aboard ships, calling on the apex regulatory agency to rise up to its responsibilities and mandate.
On the Cabotage Act, the president maintained that NIMASA has failed in its implementation as foreign owned and crewed vessels still dominate coastal shipping.
