By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

LAGOS – ORGANISED Labour in the nation’s Maritime sector, yesterday, in Lagos, berated the Senate  over fresh moves to give legal backing to the establishment of another agency in the maritime industry through the Maritime Security (Establishment) Bill 2009, to duplicate the jobs of  Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, in spite of earlier overwhelming rejection of the plan by all  stakeholders in the sector.

Under the aegis of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, labour said, in a statement, that the said bill, sponsored by some highly-placed individuals in the Presidency, through the Presidential Committee on Maritime Safety and Security, PICOMSS, an adhoc committee by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was unanimously rejected by all the stakeholders in the sector at a public hearing on  January 13, 2010.

MWUN, in the statement by its President-General, Mr. Anthony Nted, said the union gathered that the bill went through a second reading on Wednesday, December 7, in total disregard to the rejection by the stakeholders as shown on January 13, 2010.

The union reminded the Senate and President Goodluck Jonathan  of all the petitions against the bill before it, highlighting the dangers such duplication would cause the economy and maritime operations in the country.