NJIC: MWUN wants CBA to be part of vessel re-registration requirements

Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, the President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), has advocated that the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 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.

As the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and MWUN called for the review of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) for seafarers, it would be recalled 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 is urgent and necessary as the outcome must reflect current realities of international best practices and the particular challenges of Nigerian seafarers.

It is 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 is 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 Bunu also noted that pension remittance for seafarers should no longer be treated as optional, calling on NIMASA in collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies to strictly enforce mandatory pension remittance for all seafarers in the coastal, offshore and fishery sectors.

The Maritime Union henchman also advocated for a proper review of the NJIC devoid of mere paper signifying nothing; but with a strong purpose of commitment towards establishing a standing committee to monitor the NJIC compliance.

The MWUN PG said that the Union remains committed to dialogue and partnership and progress. “MWUN believes that through inclusiveness, fairness, and enforcement, Nigeria can build maritime sector that meets global standard and protect its most valuable assets – its people,” said Bunu.