NIMASA, MWUN call for immediate review of seafarers’ NJIC amid welfare concerns

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have advocated an urgent review of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) agreement for seafarers in Nigeria, stressing that the continued absence of an updated framework is detrimental to both workers and responsible shipowners.

In an e-signed release by comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna head of Media MWUN, the agencies noted that the expiration of the NJIC has left seafarers vulnerable to substandard working conditions, unfair employment practices, and weak enforcement of agreed labour standards, while also placing compliant shipowners at a competitive disadvantage.

According to them, the review of the NJIC is not a routine administrative exercise but an urgent necessity that must align with international best practices and address the peculiar challenges faced by Nigerian seafarers operating in the coastal, offshore, and fisheries sectors.

Speaking on the matter, the President-General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, described the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as the foundation of industrial harmony and productivity in the maritime industry.

He said MWUN strongly advocates that collective bargaining agreements should be made a compulsory component of the compliance checklist for shipowners, and a mandatory requirement for the renewal of operating licences as well as the re-registration of vessels.

Comrade Bunu further emphasized that pension remittance for seafarers must no longer be treated as optional, calling on NIMASA, in collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies, to strictly enforce mandatory pension contributions for all seafarers in the coastal, offshore, and fisheries sectors.

The MWUN leader also stressed the need for a comprehensive and purposeful review of the NJIC, cautioning against an agreement that exists only on paper without effective implementation. He advocated the establishment of a standing committee dedicated to monitoring compliance and ensuring strict adherence to the provisions of the NJIC.

Comrade Bunu reaffirmed MWUN’s commitment to dialogue, partnership, and progress, noting that the union believes inclusiveness, fairness, and firm enforcement of standards are critical to building a maritime sector that meets global benchmarks while protecting Nigeria’s most valuable asset — its workforce.