NJIC Agreement: NIMASA Kicks Off Seafarers’ Wage Review As MWUN Laments Non-Compliance by Shipping Companies

—Comrade Bunu Pushes Training for Ratings

By DAPO OLAWUNI

There are indications that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has flagged off discussions on the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) for which would ultimately lead to signing of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for Nigerian seafarers.

The NJIC is comprised of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Ministry of Labour, the Shipping Companies as employers of Labour and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to determine wages and welfare of Nigerian seafarers.

The meeting which held at the NIMASA office at Burma Road, Apapa Lagos on Thursday was presided over by NIMASA’s Executive Director Maritime Labour and Carbotage Services, Mr. Jibril Abba.

Speaking exclusively with DAILY TREND on Friday about the outcome of the meeting, President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Francis Bunu said the NJIC is an ongoing discussion to negotiate a new wages and salaries for seafarers.

“We have just flagged off the discussions. From now to maybe three months, it should be concluded. It is the government that usually determine the dates of the meetings.
We are pushing for so many inputs, we are bringing in the barges, the tug boats and many others that we want the Agreement to cover” Comrade Bunu told our correspondent.

Speaking on Thursday in his speech during the NJIC meeting, the MWUN President-General urged NIMASA to involve the union in the implementation of the NJIC Agreement, pointing out that many companies failed to comply with the previous agreement that was signed. He asked for government’s reward for those companies who are complying.

He also called for training of ratings onboard vessels, adding that this would enable them add value to operation of vessels at sea.

“This agreement is the only thing that the seafarers have, the Collective Bargaining Agreement, this document binds us with our employers, and the government.
The government is doing well in making sure that whenever it expires, they move into action to sign a new one

“However, for subsequent ones, let us remember that some of these things are done in arrears, if it expires and you don’t prepare another one on time, it would run into arrears and companies are often complaining on this.

“As a seafarer, we have some issues that we want your agency to carry home. It is one thing to cook a food, it is another thing to serve the food, to cook is very easy, but when you finish cooking, how many people eat your food matters a lot.

This bores down to implementation of this document that we are about to start again. So many companies have not implemented even the one that we signed before.

“Therefore, we want the agency to collaborate with the union to be able to carryout an enforcement of this document that we want to put in place for Nigerian seafarers.

“Nigeria is the first country in West Africa to have NJIC, and we have sold this to other African countries of which Nigeria is now a model through efforts of NIMASA.

“As for the companies that are implementing this document, how do we encourage them as a government? We want the government to look into this becauee without the companies and their vessels as well as the seafarers, I dont think NIMASA would have anything to regulate, your regulations revolves around the employer and the employee.
So, we need to be properly carried along when it comes to implementation of this document.

“It is one thing for me to get a better condition of service, it is another thing for me to be properly trained in order to deliver the proper input that the shipowner needs. We are facing challenges of lack of training for the ratings.

“When it comes to cadetship training, NIMASA has done very well, you have trained more than what other African countries have trained, it is on record that you have done very well.

“But, what about those who wash plates, clean the floors, dress the beds and cook the foods onboard the vessels? We want NIMASA to look into this and let the training of the ratings and dockworkers be a priority” Comrade Bunu stated.