By Uzor Odigbo
Labour unions have called on the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside to stop gambling with the maritime sector by inviting politicians who have no meaningful inputs and values in the growth and development of the shipping community.
The groups under the auspices of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, lamented that seafarers have suffered setbacks in the last three years and the current DG has failed to better their lots.
According to them, core maritime operators like master mariners and marine engineers are always neglected whenever events of such magnitude are held.
Prior to the event on Thursday, the unions had concluded plans to express their displeasure on how NIMASA engages its immediate stakeholders.
Recall that during the world seafarers day celebration held recently in Lagos, the NIMASA top brass invited Mrs Aisha Buhari as special guest of the honour; a development the unions described as waste of time.
Sources revealed that the outcome of the meeting between the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) affiliates on Wednesday, maintained that the DG in his flamboyant style of hosting maritime programmes needs to be cautioned the way and manner he chooses the calibre of personalities for industry events.
One of the source who prefers anonymity, said: ” We just have to call a spade a spade because this is not how the maritime industry should go.
“If we continue like this I tell you the maritime sector will be converted to political industry.
“Of what benefit inviting people who don’t have any knowledge about the maritime industry.
“We felt we should let him know publicly for once the importance of our immediate or core stakeholders in the industry that is why we felt we should tell him the bitter truth.”
Similarly, the African Day of Seas and Oceans, with the theme, “Harnessing Nigeria’s Marine Biodiversity for Accelerated Economic Growth,” organised by the apex maritime regulatory agency, was queried by the unions, asking of what benefit can the personalities invited to the event contribute to maritime growth.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, at event stated that Nigeria’s rich maritime resources represent a vital economic safeguard and vehicle for the successful implementation of the President Muhammadu Buhari government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), which must be sustainably tapped.