The Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, STOAN, has called for the deployment of the 0.5 percent paid into the Stevedore Fund for the training of dockworkers.
Speaking at the just concluded, Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria in collaboration with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, held in Lagos Chairman of STOAN, Dr. Vicky Hastrrup said that the is need for a befitting training centre of international standard with updated equipment for dockworkers in Nigeria.
The charge, according to Hastrrup is collected in dollars, by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) but has not been used for its intended purpose, according to stakeholders.
The STOAN Chairman also said that dockworkers play a vital role in the economy and as such require professional training to efficiently carry out their operations.
Haastrup, said: “Terminal operators pay 0.5% of cargo stevedoring charges to NIMASA, which should be used for dockworkers’ training. What we are saying is that the money should be judiciously used for the purpose that it’s meant for. NIMASA should have a training school where you have all the facilities that will enable these dock workers to be appropriately and well-trained because that’s key.
“Terminal operators don’t mind training them. We do our own training, but we cannot build such a facility like the training school, where they will be well-trained, but NIMASA can do both practical and theory,” she added.
Haastrup who is also the CEO of ENL Consortium noted that Dockworkers play a vital role in the marine industry, and without them, you do not have a port.
“The port sector is critical and if the right policies are applied through this sector, the economy will become robust.”
Similarly, President -General of MWUN , Comrade Adewale Adeyanju condemned the trainers employed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety gency, NIMASA, which he described as uncertified and the certificates they issue are not up to global standards.
He said:”The professionals they bring to train the dockworkers are not capable. Even the certificates obtained are not up to global standards. It is only until our seafarers travel to Ghana to train that their certificates are recognized globally.
He warned that untrained dockworkers are accidents waiting to happen at the ports.
Commenting on the development, President of National Association of Stevedore, NASO, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola said that while NIMASA gets 0.5 percent, the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA gets 10 percent.
Sunmola however disagreed with STOAN saying that the levy is not purely for training of dockworkers.
He said: Dockworkers can tap from the 0.5 percent stevedoring levy as NIMASA is also supposed to render other services but are they rendering these services.”
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