The Federal Government has promised to wade into the remittance imbroglio between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State.
The law establishing NIMASA mandates it to make available five per cent of its total revenue to MAN Oron for manpower development for the maritime industry.
MAN Oron, has however, complained of irregular release of the fund by NIMASA.
But, the Minister of State for Transport, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, while fielding questions from journalists shortly after a facility tour of the academy on Thursday, said the Federal Government would take a holistic look at the remittances issue, with a view to solving the lingering problem.
She said, “There seems to be misunderstanding on the part of NIMASA as to how these funds are supposed to be given to the Maritime Academy, Oron. It is not at NIMASA’s pleasure. It is not whether NIMASA wants to, or how. It is NIMASA’s duty. It is not NIMASA to oversight it. NIMASA’s own is that you are supposed to give a certain amount to Maritime Academy.
“We will look into the system as it is supposed to be. We are looking at a way of seeing how this ridiculous problem will go away forever. As at now, it is not working.
“We will sit together independent of Maritime Academy and NIMASA to find solution because sometimes it seems we have a misunderstanding. We will make it very simple for everybody so that there will be no area of confusion.”
Saraki, who was at the academy to commission some projects including a hostel with capacity for 200 students, Gbemisola Saraki Sports Pavilion, Margaret Orakwusi Block and Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu mini-auditorium, expressed satisfaction with the quality of infrastructures put in place in the academy.
She commended the Rector, retired Navy Commodore Duja Effedua, for repositioning the academy.
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