Rumble In NIMASA: Transport Ministry Demotes NIMASA Workers

• Warredi, Nabena, Others Affected
• Bad-blood Over Ag. DG’s Daughter’s, Hubby’s Transfer 
• IMO Celebrates Maritime Day

Fresh rumble is brewing in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) over the demotion of some management and other members of staff by the Committee set up by the Federal Ministry of Transport to review employment and promotions done in the agency since 2010.

Also creating bad-blood in the agency is the Ag. Director General, Mr. Haruna Jauro’s transfer of his daughter and son-in-law to Abuja from Port Harcourt, at a cost considered as waste of funds.

MMS plus gathered that  the committee which  at the time of gathering this information was on the verge of completing its exercise had recommended that some NIMASA staff be right-placed in line with the civil service rules and procedures, as such some management members of staff were listed for demotion, dismissal and promotion. And those listed for demotion were: Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, current Director of Shipping Development and Engr. Felix Bob-Nabena, Director of SERVICOM. While Warredi is to be demoted to the position of a Principal Officer, Grade Level 12 from Grade Level 17; Bob-Nabena is to be demoted to Grade Level 15, Assistant Director from Level 17.

It was gathered that Capt. Warredi is experienced but has only three different Ordinary National Diploma (ONDs) obtained at different times in Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron; School of Oceanography, Victoria Island, Lagos and another one abroad. Nabena has been a subject matter and a case study for wrongful promotion and employment in NIMASA but has a Masters degree.

Recall that the Federal Ministry of Transport set up a 13-Man committee at the behest of Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir, having been inundated with complaints and petitions from NIMASA officials. The Committee headed by the Ministry’s Director of Human Resources, Mr. Lawal Ibrahim was expected to determine the propriety or otherwise of the employment, placement and promotions carried out under the tenure of the former Director-General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi with the aim to ascertain whether it conformed with the civil service procedures and the Federal Character Principle.

Following this development, all the workers affected in the recommendation yet to be made public were said to have started lobbying to retain their positions. Capt. Warredi was said to have ran to Capt. Adegboyega  Olopoenia, current President of   Nigerian Association of Master Mariners  for intervention. However, Capt. Olopoenia has been warned by some other NIMASA members of staff to stay clear or risk being stoned in the public.

So far, three persons have been confirmed sacked by the committee, according to the spokesperson of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka in a press statement recently.

Meanwhile, the decision of the Ag. Director General to un-procedurally transfer his daughter, Cynthia James, Level 9 officer, and Son-in-law, Level 10 officer, both of whom he employed in NIMASA as a couple to Abuja with full transfer allowances paid yet no duty assigned to them is generating ripples. Beside the payment of full allowances without duties, the couple who work in Marine Environment Department, had denied some staff the opportunity of going for a training programme abroad as scheduled because their father as the then Executive Director, Finance and Administration insisted they must travel with other chosen members of staff not until they were denied visa by the US Embassy.

In another development, the maritime community globally, observed the World Maritime Day on September 24th, 2015, last week, with the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation(IMO), Mr. Koji Sekimizu calling for commitment to maritime education and training.

In his message to mark the World Maritime Day in London, titled: “Maritime Education and Training,” Sekimizu said maritime education and training must be of a high consistent quality throughout the world. “They must be skills-based, competence-based and utilize the latest technology such as simulators reflecting modern ships and up to date bridge layouts. Maritime education and training are not just for seafarers. Maritime education needs broad coverage”, he added.