Unregistered seafarer groups, threat to national security - Maritime unions

The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Association (NMNOWTSSA) and Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have called on the federal government to halt proliferation of regimented seafaring associations in Nigeria.

The two foremost maritime unions said such proliferation under pseudo names could lead to further insecurity in the country.

The unions lamented the use of naval uniforms by some associations who are not affiliates to either the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

Speaking on the sideline of the 1st Quadrennial National Delegates Conference held in Asaba, Delta State, Deputy President General of MWUN, Comrade Douglas Eromobor frowned at some of the associations parading themselves as seafarer outfits.

Eromobor called on the security agencies and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to map out strategies to end the anomalies, noting that the emergence of such bodies is threat to national security.

He noted that issues surrounding impersonation would continue to rise if the government fails to nip the anomaly in the bud.

The Deputy President General said: “We are having problem right now in the maritime industry and I think we should put an end to that because those people are not certified seafarers.

Eromobor lamented that the unknown groups were not part of the deliberations on the welfare package or Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for seafarers thus have no position paper on the need for government to better the lots of Nigerian ratings or officers aboard ships.

“If some groups of people claim to be seafarers and are not part of the transport unions like MWUN for the ratings or Comrade Matthew Alalade’s NMNOWTSSA then what is their interest?

“We want the federal government to identify all these anomalies which with time, might lead to insecurity in Nigeria if not properly managed or addressed.

He further noted, “We are begging the federal government of Nigeria to identify these group of people wearing uniforms like the Nigerian Navy.

Eromobor said that the two unions registered under TUC and NLC have no business with such groups parading themselves as seafarer outfits because the regulatory agency and the organised labour unions cannot identify with the groups.

The union leader also challenged the faceless groups to take a bold step and engage NIMASA on the authenticity of their existing association or union.

Eromobor commended President General of the MWUN Comrade Adewale Adeyanju for the robust relationship between the two unions, adding that all hands must be on deck to strengthen the taskforce set up by the union in tackling fake manning agents.

Also speaking, former National President, NMNOWTSSA, Captain Thomas Kemewerigha said that the unions are registered transport organisations registered under labour laws, adding that quack associations would pose serious setback to the maritime sector considering the insecurity challenges faced in the country.

Captain Kemewerigha lamented that the government has failed to clampdown on these groups; which according to him, are faceless bodies without significant value to the growth of the maritime sector.

The former NMNOWTSSA boss spoke on the topic” The Impact of Pseudo Names in The Recognition of Our Existence ”