Merchant Navy association assures members of better welfare in 2021

The National President of Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), Comrade Bob Yousuo on Thursday assured Nigerian seafarers of better welfare package in the incoming year, 2021 as the ITF  MAS  project is out to achieve employment of Nigeria Seafarers as enshrined in the Cabotage regime as well as recognition of their Certificate Of Competency.According to the seasoned Seafarer, the year ahead will bring forth good prospects as a single Collective Bargaining Agreement and Joint Monitoring Team will be put in place for the wellbeing of  Nigeria Seafarers.

He therefore called for cooperation of the members of the association  to achieve the feat.

He gave the assurance in his season’s greetings message to members of the association.

The seafarers’ national leader called on the federal government to prepare adequate protection and compensation to seafarers as the second wave of Covid-19 is gradually rearing its ugly head even as he urged Seafarers employers to take the welfare of Seafarers very seriously by paying them adequately.

“We say no to slavery wages. The ILO wage scale must be adhered to strictly,” he quipped

He however said he prayed that the pandemic does not resurge, but said adequate preparation should be put in place to assure seafarers on board vessels of safety and protection.

Yousou, who congratulated members of Merchant Navy for the successful commissioning of the new  National Secretariat acquired by the group, added that together, the success was made achievable  and called on others to join the moving train so as to get to the promise Land.

He said that the year 2021 shall be a better one for members even as he called for more support from the government to pay more attention to welfare of Seafarers in Nigeria saying that their services were indispensable as almost 90% of the global trade is carried out by seamen.

While felicitating with both zonal/ National executives, members and staff for the grace to witness the yuletide in good health and sound mind, he enjoined them to keep safe from the looming pandemic so that they can be healthy to resume their normal  duties after the break.

He said, “We want to thank God for the grace given to us to see another end of the year. It is a rare privilege because not all that entered into the year, saw the end.

We pray that there should not be second wave of Covid-19, but we are asking that adequate measures should be put in place for protection, safety and encouragement of our members should such ugly situations merges again for prevention is better than cure.

As for the feat of new secretariat, the National President said that the association would strive to achieve more feats during the administration of the current executives.

He added that the secretariat of the union was officially closed for the year on Thursday, 24th December, 2020 to resume on 4th January, 2021