The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have jointly called for the immediate review of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) agreement for seafarers in Nigeria to address worsening working conditions and enforce global best practices.
The agencies noted that the expiration of the NJIC has exposed seafarers to poor welfare, arbitrary employment practices and weak enforcement of agreed standards, while also placing responsible shipowners at a competitive disadvantage.
According to stakeholders, the NJIC review is no longer a routine exercise but an urgent necessity. The new framework, they stressed, must reflect current international labour standards and the peculiar challenges faced by Nigerian seafarers operating in coastal, offshore and fisheries sectors.
Speaking on the development, President General of MWUN, Comrade Francis Abi, described the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as the foundation of industrial peace and productivity in the maritime sector.
He said the MWUN strongly advocates that compliance with CBAs should form part of the mandatory checklist for shipowners and be tied to the renewal of operating certificates and re-registration of vessels.
Bunu also emphasised that pension remittance for seafarers must no longer be treated as optional, urging NIMASA and other relevant regulatory agencies to strictly enforce mandatory pension contributions for all seafarers in the coastal, offshore and fisheries sub-sectors.
He further called for a meaningful NJIC review beyond mere documentation, stressing the need to establish a standing committee to monitor compliance and ensure sustained implementation.
The MWUN President General reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to dialogue, partnership and progress, noting that through inclusiveness, fairness and enforcement, Nigeria can build a maritime sector that meets global standards while protecting its most valuable asset — its people.