NIMASA, MWUN advocate improved NJIC for seafarers in Nigeria

Maureen Aguta

The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have called for the review of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) for Seafarers in the country.

Recall that the expiration of the NJIC has exposed Seafarers to poor working conditions, arbitrary employment practices, and weakened enforcement of agreed standards, which have placed responsible ship owners at a disadvantage.

This review is not just procedural; it’s urgent and necessary as the outcome must reflect current realities of international best practices and the particular challenges of Nigerian Seafarers.

It’s important to note that the absence of undated NJIC has exposed Seafarers to poor working conditions, arbitrary employment practices, and enforcement of standards; placing responsible ship owners at disadvantage. In view of this, the review is not just procedural, it’s urgent and necessary. The outcome must reflect current realities of international best standards and practices and the peculiar challenges of Nigerian Seafarers operating in coastal offshore and fishery operations.

Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, the President -General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria also lent his voice on the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), saying that the CBA a is the cornerstone of industrial peace and productivity; hence MWUN strongly advocates that collective bargaining agreement should be made an integral part of the compliance check list of Shipowners and mandatory requirements for both requirements of Renewal of operating certificates and Re- registration of vessels.

Comrade Bunu also noted that pension remittance for Seafarers should no longer be treated as optional. He, however, call on NIMASA in collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies to strictly enforce mandatory pension remittance for all Seafarers in the coastal, offshore and fishery sectors.