National News
NIMASA approves additional $268,000 for 134 cadets
The 134 cadets participating in the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme will get an additional $2,000 each, according to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
According to a statement by Osagie Edward, Assistant Director of Public Relations at NIMASA, the organisation has implemented both short, and long-term plans to reduce the impact of inflation on participants’ standard of living while they are participating in the programme.
Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the Director-General of NIMASA, remarked that the review of the ongoing exercise was required due to the worldwide inflationary trends, which were particularly prominent in the Philippines, India, and some other nations.
The statement partly read, “We have put in place immediate and long-term arrangements to minimise the effect of inflation on their living standard during the programme.
“The management of the agency has approved an additional $2,000 for each of the cadets, as extra fund due to inflation. This is a short-term measure to cushion the effect of inflation.
“I am sure the Nigerian embassy will get in touch with the students immediately the funds are ready to be disbursed.
“It is a well-coordinated arrangement through the embassy. 146 cadets have acquired the Philippines sailing license through the NSDP programme with 134 currently undergoing the programme and a further 170 being prepared to proceed to the Philippines for the examinations.”
It will be noted that NIMASA launched the NSDP in 2008 with the intention of addressing the lack of Nigerian seafarers on ocean-going vessels and the requirement to satisfy the indigenous manning requirements of coastal and interior commerce.
The programme is designed to prepare young people from Nigeria for careers as seafarers and naval architects at some of the greatest maritime training institutions in the world.
The inflationary tendency, according to the statement, has increased the expense of supporting our cadets who are sponsored in some schools as part of the NSDP programme.
“We are not unmindful of the unforeseen global inflationary trend which has affected the cost of sustaining our cadets who are on sponsorship in some schools under the NSDP programme”.
Though NIMASA paid the tuition fee, examination fee and the original cost of feeding and accommodation in full, with allowance for extra funds as pocket money, however, it’s obvious that cost of living has increased particularly in the Philippines due to the global inflation.
The agency is working closely with the Nigerian embassy in the Philippines to address the challenges associated with the unexpected price increases.
“While working closely with the Nigerian embassy in the Philippines to establish appropriate extra funds that may be required, NIMASA management is deploying a team on fact finding to interact with the students currently in the Philippines, officials of the Nigerian embassy, the Maritime Industry Authority, Philippines, some Licensure Examination Training & Review Centres”
The statement further said that the agency has also made firm arrangements to ensure those cadets who have spent the stipulated 6 months approved for the CoC programme in the Philippines return home immediately.
