Capt. Fola Ojutalayo |
Capt. Fola Ojutalayo, a Senior Lecturer in the Federal
College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos, on Wednesday said
appointments of heads of maritime agencies should not be politicised.
College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos, on Wednesday said
appointments of heads of maritime agencies should not be politicised.
Ojutalayo, who stated this in an interview in Lagos, urged the incoming administration to
allow professionals to develop the maritime industry.
allow professionals to develop the maritime industry.
He said like the Health industry, government could not
bring anybody to head any cadre of the Health industry; adding that the same
thing with the Justice Department, Finance and Security.
bring anybody to head any cadre of the Health industry; adding that the same
thing with the Justice Department, Finance and Security.
“The first thing for any government to do, who want
to achieve a great milestone in the maritime industry is the de-politicisation
of our maritime industry and the professionalisation of the maritime industry.
to achieve a great milestone in the maritime industry is the de-politicisation
of our maritime industry and the professionalisation of the maritime industry.
“And when I mean professionalisation of the maritime
industry, I mean patriotic professionalisation. That is where it starts from.
industry, I mean patriotic professionalisation. That is where it starts from.
“We have some young, dynamic, good professionals in
Nigeria that we do not need to go outside to go and get much of expertise to
come and do that for us.
Nigeria that we do not need to go outside to go and get much of expertise to
come and do that for us.
“You have people who are heading the industry; are
more of politicians and administrators, who do not have the nitty-gritty of the
intricacies of their policies.
more of politicians and administrators, who do not have the nitty-gritty of the
intricacies of their policies.
“The framework with which to implement the policies
and the operational module with which to implement those policies.
and the operational module with which to implement those policies.
“And in case you run into murky waters, how do you
handle and get yourself out of it. You need expertise to be able to do that.
handle and get yourself out of it. You need expertise to be able to do that.
‘`Like the health industry, you cannot bring just
anybody to come and head any cadre of the Health industry; the same thing with
the Justice department.
anybody to come and head any cadre of the Health industry; the same thing with
the Justice department.
“Both states and Federal Government, you have lawyers
running it.
running it.
“The same thing with Finance, the same thing with
Security, so why will Maritime be politicised?
Security, so why will Maritime be politicised?
Ojutalayo said that only about 25 per cent of the
maritime industry had been utilised, when the industry could generate as much
as five million jobs if professionals were allowed to run it.
maritime industry had been utilised, when the industry could generate as much
as five million jobs if professionals were allowed to run it.