NIMASA steps up industrial harmony in maritime sctor

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have restated commitment to continuous stakeholder’s engagement as an effective tool to maintain industrial peace and harmony that the sector has enjoyed in recent years.

The Director-General, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, and the President General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju made the assertion in Lagos at a ceremony by NIMASA to handover vehicles to the union as part of the agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility. The vehicles were a 16-seater bus and one Hilux.

Jamoh applauded the union for adopting dialogue in ensuring and maintaining peace in the maritime sector, which he said has aided the peace and industrial harmony witnessed in the sector leading to the successes recorded.

He said: “In the past few years, the maritime industry has experienced relative peace and harmony, which has been made possible through the instrumentality of the leadership of MWUN.

NIMASA is committed to ensuring the union is equipped with adequate facilities needed to perform their duties judiciously.”

He also charged the MWUN to continue to support the policies and instruments of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), towards ensuring a better welfare and decent work for seafarers.

“We acknowledge that you have done so much in championing the cause for better wages for dockworkers, seafarers and other labour components in the maritime sector. We urge you to continue your stakeholders’ engagement in achieving implementation of international labour laws to achieve better welfare in consonance with international best practices for workers in the maritime sector,” he said.

Jamoh, however, assured that the agency would complete the renovation of the headquarters of the union in order to give them a befitting habitation.

Adeyanju thanked the management of NIMASA, assuring that the union will continue to work closely with the various stakeholders in the sector to ensure continuous progress.

He also urged terminal operators, government agencies and other major maritime players to emulate NIMASA in the discharge of their CSR projects.

The MWUN leader commended the leadership of NIMASA under Jamoh, urging the Federal Government to consider a second tenure for him based on performance.