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By Steve Agbota, [email protected]
The celebration of the International Day of Seafarers was recently held across the maritime nations for their contribution to world trade.
This was in line with the United Nation (UN), convention which set aside June 25th of every year to celebrate seafarers globally.
The world maritime nations recognise the impact of seafarers as they move about 85 per cent of the world trade.
Without seafarers onboard, world trade will remain static and grounded.
For instance, at the peak of COVID-19 when the world experienced a lock-down, seafarers were the ones moving all necessary materials and palliatives to curb the effect of the deadly virus.
During this hard time, seafarers were onboard to transport goods to ensure the global economy is not grounded.
For these reasons, in commemoration of the 2023 Seafarer’s Day, stakeholders joined the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) to call on the Federal Government to consider tax exemption and effective enforcement of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the welfare of Nigerian seafarers as well as development of shipping.
They said that seafarers hardly enjoy most social-amenities on ground as most of their time is spent at sea, hence, the need for the Federal Government to grant them tax exemption as obtainable and practiceable in other countries.
In his speech, the National President of NMNOWTSSA, Comrade Bob Yousou, said: “We are appealing to government to look into our letter for tax exemption for Nigerian seafarers. The Union still reiterated its position for the government to ensure sea-time is provided for the Nigeria cadets. We urge the government to look inward for training of cadets. Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) has its merit and demerit.
“Training cadets abroad makes us suffer capital flight and reduce our home maritime schools to nothing, while we support for the purpose of foreign tickets, we encourage government to assist the Nigeria Maritime institutions that meet minimum standard for assistance either in grant waters to have cadet abroad,” he added.
According to him, seafarers transport about 85 per cent of the world’s trade and hence their activities should be favorable to maritime biological and ecological balances.
He added that it is very important for seafarers to abide by actions that help in protecting the Maritime environment for the purpose of climate change.
However, he identified some of the challenges faced by Nigerian seafarers as poor remuneration/delay in the payment of their wages, delay in the signing of their Certificate of Competency (COC), lack of effective CBA, and unemployment, among others.
He called on the government to look into the ensuring that the CBA is signed and adhered to by shipowners, the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) for indigenous ship acquisition and most importantly tax exemption for Nigerian Seafarers as they hardly enjoy socio amenities on ground as most of their time is spent at sea.
“Today we want to encourage Nigerian seafarers to restrain from joining and patronising unrecognised bodies, either the name of Merchant security outfit or otherwise. The Law, TUA, 2005 is very clear, NMNOWTSSA represents the Nigeria Seafarers (Officers) while Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) stands in for the ratings.
“There should not be any contrary organisation or self-acclaimed organization to deceive anybody. Any certificate that falls short of MLC, 2006 as amended are not due for seafarers, not recognised and accepted for seaman employment opportunity.
“We are urging the government to expedite action to ensure that the CVFF is disbursed to qualified indigenous shipowners in order to actualise the rationale behind the fund. By this, the indigenous shipowners will generate revenue, employment opportunity as well as Cadets placement onboard their vessels. We request the government to make it as policy that all vessels trading within Nigeria territorial waters to have Nigerian cadets onboard,” he added. Conversely, he urged seafarers’ to assist in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem urging the seamen to avoid polluting the waters either by dropping waste products oiling materials or things that are harmful to humans,plants and animals at sea or ocean.
He said it is very important for seafarers’ to abide by actions that help in protecting the maritime environment for the purpose of climate change.
”Water covering of the earth’s surface, the ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, it regulates our climate and weather pattern. The need therefore for seafarers’ activities to be supportive of good climate,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Deputy President General MWUN, Comrade Harry Tonye, said that agreements on industrial development to wage formation is to promote industrial, profitability and competitiveness. “As we may now today, MARPOL has come to stay indelible in our seafarer’s way of life; as good health and hygienic maritime environment are the necessary and essential atmosphere to ply our noble trade as seafarers. In this regard preventing pollution from our vessels/ships must be our core responsibilities as by this means, seafarers will enjoy a healthy life at sea.
“The Collective Bargaining Agreement process entails that parties take a joint responsibility for wage development; where the parties present their shared views concerning the conditions for industrial operation. The purpose being to allow each party to conduct their union negotiation constructively without any industrial action and to reach new agreement with a balance result before the old agreement expires,” he noted.
Also, the Executive Director, Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Capt. Abiodun Sule pointed seafarers’ contribution to protecting the maritime environment, adding that in West Africa, strict requirements are in operation. He explained further that vessels can be fined for not complying with pollution control measures.
According to him, seafarers can contribute to protecting the maritime environment through knowledge-based training and professional capacity building, effective waste reduction and management amongst others.
For his part, a foremost maritime lawyer, Osuala Nwagbara, in his paper stressed on the CBA as a veritable platform for harmonious industrial relationship and growth in the seafaring profession, said that collective bargaining is a social dialogue directed at promoting peace and harmony in the industrial sector.
