Labour to Unionize NIMASA Senior Staff

Tayo Oladipupo

Efforts are in top gear to unionize members of the senior staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) by the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA).

The National President of the association, Engr. Matthew Alalade dropped the hint during his 60th birthday celebration in Lagos, last week.

Alalade said that the move was in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour and Productivity adding that the process is long overdue.

He stressed that the union is currently engaging the Labour Ministry on modalities to engage workers of the apex maritime regulatory agency as parts of efforts for them to be involved in union activities.

Engineer Alalade the Auditor of TUC, affirmed, “There is progress recorded in the process of unionising workers of NIMASA senior staff because you will agree with me that issues that have to do with labour takes a gradual process but we are working closely with the ministry (Labour) to ensure that the staff of NIMASA are involved in labour activities.”

He however quipped that the activities of the union must fall under a tripartite agreement even as he said that NIMASA as an agency of the government in Nigeria was not an exception.

While expressing worries over government nonchalant attitude to boosting local shipping development in the country, the Merchant Navy top brass further called on the Federal Government to enforce and encourage the Cabotage Act, noting that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progress Congress (APC) has to acquire ships to boost indigenous shipping.

“As a maritime nation we need to boost shipping capacity to engage students who graduated from the various private and government owned maritime institutions,” he said.

Speaking further, the union boss stated that “All the senior staff in NIMASA would be involved in the exercise while the lower cadre workers can also be unionised by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

“We are gaining momentum to that effect but we cannot tell you the actual date it kicks start. But I can tell you that before the end of the year, it will be achieved,” he stated.