The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have called for an urgent review of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) agreement for seafarers, citing deteriorating working conditions and weakened regulatory enforcement following its expiration.
The two bodies warned that the lapse of the NJIC has exposed Nigerian seafarers to poor working conditions, arbitrary employment practices, and inadequate enforcement of agreed standards.
They noted that the absence of an updated framework has also placed responsible shipowners at a competitive disadvantage.
According to stakeholders, the proposed review of the NJIC is not merely procedural but critical to aligning Nigeria’s maritime labour standards with current international best practices.
They stressed that any revised agreement must reflect the realities and peculiar challenges faced by Nigerian seafarers operating in coastal, offshore, and fishery sectors.
President-General of MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, underscored the importance of strengthening the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), describing it as the cornerstone of industrial peace and productivity in the maritime industry.
He advocated making the CBA an integral part of compliance requirements for shipowners, including mandatory consideration during the renewal of operating certificates and vessel re-registration processes.
Bunu also emphasised that pension remittance for seafarers should no longer be treated as optional. He urged NIMASA, in collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies, to strictly enforce mandatory pension contributions for all seafarers across the coastal, offshore, and fishery segments.
Furthermore, the union called for the establishment of a standing committee to monitor compliance with the NJIC once reviewed, stressing that the agreement must go beyond mere documentation to ensure meaningful implementation.
MWUN reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue, partnership, and progress, expressing confidence that inclusiveness, fairness, and strict enforcement of standards would enable Nigeria to build a maritime sector that meets global benchmarks while safeguarding the welfare of its workforce.
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