Reps’ Inspects MAN Oron Training Facilities, Commend Tinubu, Oyetola

…Thumbs-up Budget Performance

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

At the Simulators Centre

Following its one-day oversight function at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN Oron, which included a guided tour of the institution’s training facilities, the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration rated the Academy’s budget performance as being very impressive even as the commended the Hon. Minister of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola CON, for pioneering the birth of Nigeria’s Blue Economy with an aggressive and productive policy formulation.

Representing the Committee Chairman, Hon. Khadija Buka Abba Ibrahim, the Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uduak Alphonsus Odudoh addressing newsmen at the end of the oversight visit observed the criticality of the Academy to the realization of the nation’s nascent marine and blue economy.

The committee disclosed that after going through the books of the Academy and given what they have seen during the tour of learning and training facilities, said it was satisfied.

Hon. Odudoh however noted that for MAN to continue to play its role as a critical national asset, it requires sufficient and improved funding as the country would always rely on the Academy to continually produce the required operational manpower for the marine and blue economy; while serving as a base of monitoring and evaluation in maritime training by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

While commending the Acting Rector, Dr Kevin Okonna for satisfactorily continuing with the legacy achievements of his predecessor, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd) and also promoting a robust relationship with the host community, the Committee lead person urged the ministry and the maritime industry stakeholders to continue to support the academy.

The lawmaker praised Commodore Effedua for his focus and leadership credential that saw to the rapid transformation of the academy within a space of five years, even as he described the immediate past rector as a transparent CEO ,whose steps the Acting Rector has followed in accepting the oversight visit few months into his administration.

The leader of the committee also thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing a substantive Governing Council for the Academy, chaired by Engr. Kehinde Akionola.

“I thank the president of Nigeria for graciously appointing the governing council of this great institution led by Engr. Kehinde Akiinola. The last time we came here on oversight, about a year ago, there was no governing council and the Act establishing this academy stipulates that there must be a governing council.

“Governing council plays a different role from the management of these institution so let me thank those that found favour in the sight of God and that of the president to be appointed as chairman and members of the governing council.”

While also commending Dr. Okonna for fitting in superbly into his new leadership role, he applauded his cooperation and that of his management for warmly welcoming the lawmakers, advising agencies of government that have the tendencies of always been suspicious of parliamentary oversight function to borrow a leaf from MAN Oron.

“A lawmaker has three major roles to play: lawmaking, oversight function and representation. What we are doing here now is oversight function and in answering those questions, let me also commend once again the previous rector and the present rector.

“I want to say it on camera, it is only a head of agency who has a skeleton to hide in his cupboard that will always be afraid of oversights. For over a period of two years now, any time we want to come here on oversight, the former rector will be ready to accept us because they are always very transparent.

“To some head of agencies, anytime you talk about oversight they feel you are coming to probe them. Let’s assume you are actually going there for probing, if they are doing the right thing it’s not something they should be scared of.”

Commenting on the amiable disposition of the Academy management to the committee oversight visit, Odudoh said “Their books and budget performance report had been sent to the committee long before today. We went through it, we asked questions and we’ve gone to see what they have used the money for. Especially in the areas of capital projects and we are satisfied.

“On five percent allocation the current DG of NIMASA is cooperating. Any moment from now, they will come for budget appraisal and budget defense. But before that, arising from the last visit that we came here, and the visitation of MAN Oron to the National Assembly Committee on Maritime Safety and Education Administration, the issue of 5% was raised and a subcommittee was constituted headed by one of our colleagues. So the work is ongoing because we must ensure that there is a timely release of these funds.”

He continued: “Primarily, I want to commend the new rector, he has started on very good note. Having stayed here for a very long time, he has learned the ropes. He has chosen to consolidate and also correct what seem to be the errors of the past, because nobody is perfect.

“Today, before l came here members of this host community called me and they told me that the Acting Rector, who is just barely three months old on the job has done well in terms of his relationship with the host community. Because if you operate in a place where the community is hostile, you will be completely distracted.

“The Acting Rector is like putting a square peg in a square hole. He is a veteran as long as this place is concerned. He is a professional. Even when we go on facility tours, after the instructors have spoken, he will summarize and simplify it in the way and manner that a layman will understand.

“We went to the Marine Engineering Workshop, the instructor told us how the machines, the engine of a ship can be dismantled and assembled. Tell me where you can see that in most of the universities in Nigeria that offer Marine Engineering? You can’t find it anywhere. So the only prayer that we have is, this school has to be sustained and upgraded. We also appreciate the environment, it’s one of the neatest institutions in Nigeria.

“As a committee, as house of reps, we will do everything to ensure that we support this school to grow so that citizens of Nigeria can continually be proud of this school.”

While welcoming the lawmakers, Dr Okonna also used the opportunity to thank the Minister for providing guidance and support to the academy. He explained that as member of the defunct Interim Management Committee (IMC), he worked closely with the former Rector, Commodore Effedua, even as he noted his predecessor’s unprecedented achievements.

According to Okonna, the Academy remains an integral part of the administrative instrument for gauging Nigeria’s presence in the IMO, particularly on matters of the White List and other measurement instruments like the Standards of Training and Certification Watchkeeping (STCW); which is in the purview of MAN Oorn.

The Rector disclosed that in addition to its regular courses, the Academy also run 48 specialized courses for seafarers certification and shore based personnel.