President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Dr Adewale Adeyanju has commended the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) for its support towards the ongoing projects in towards towards enhancement of workers welfare.
The labour leader also said the ongoing Collective Bargain Agreement on seafarers welfare in the country has recorded seventy percent success.
Adeyanju who was speaking in Lagos at a ceremony in honour of Ms Barning Annica Marie the ITF Mass Project Coordinator who is on visit to Nigeria from the organisation’s London headquarters, described the support being given to Nigeria by the international body as very commendable.
According to him,tbe project which was Initially meant to last for just one year, was extended upon the MWUN request and achieved training of labour leaders on how to negotiate particularly with international companies which has also acquainted the union with ITF standards of agreements between labour and employers
He added that the relationship has also enhanced collaboration with all stakeholders in the industry which has evolved into having a working group to meet and review progress regulatly. This ,according to Adeyanju has given birth to joint NJIC involving Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA) and other stakeholders in the country.
He also said that some companies that have been evading dialogue with the union have been brought to the negotiation table with prospects of more joining as Nigeria has become a model which other West African countries like Ghana and Cote d’Voire are seeking to emulate in terms of seafarers welfare negotiation and agreements.
Ms Barning thanked Adeyanju and the union for the warm hospitality she received since her arrival in Nigeria and reiterated that the ITF is committed to provide the tools and support for MWUN to succeed.
Barning said the ITF aims at increasing membership and is concerned about boosting the recognition of certificates of Nigerian seafarers to enhance their employability
She said the ITF interest in Nigeria is about how the affiliate put forward what they want to do before the federation. According to her,”Nigerians are really working hard to see this through.As far as, I am concerned , I will do my best to push for a better affiliate”
Responding to reporters’ questions about gender balance to give room for more female involvement,she said “We have to face the truth .It is a male dominated business.To attract women, we could do that by first connecting our environment with a proper legislation.It is also dangerous.Some of the transport modes are really dangerous to women not only in Africa but everywhere.Even in Sweden .
“We don’t have a lot of them.For instance, few women are taxi drivers because it is quite dangerous.I think women’s network is the way to go. We are also to train men to treat women with respect no matter where they meet them.We want more women in transport.We have been saying that all the time but there are still few spaces for women.If you ask me, I am happy being an ITF inspector for 23 years.I have seen change but not as fast as I demanded.
“You saw the atmosphere this morning, there were a handful of women and a lot of men.How do we change that? If I have the answer, I will probably win the nobel prize because I don’t really know how, but we need to create and save spaces for women. To attract them, we need to tell them to treat each other with respect.It’s an interesting business for women to go into” she concluded
