60% seafarers disenfranchised as NIMASA fails to enforce NJIC, Union laments
60% seafarers disenfranchised as NIMASA fails to enforce NJIC, Union laments
Over sixty percent of Nigerian seafarers suffer neglect from employers over the failure of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to enforce the contents of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC)) agreement, seafarers’ union leader has lamented.
NJIC is a joint industrial agreement for Workers’ welfare signed by the tripartite body including employers of labour, NIMASA as the regulating agency and the union representing the seafarers.
Speaking with journalists at the weekend, the National President of Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), Chief Engineer, Bob Joseph Yousuo expressed disappointment over the development saying it is the failure of the regulating agency to.enforce the agreement that denies the workers of their welfare rights.
Despite yearly renewal of the agreement, Comrade Yousuo said seafarers do not benefit from the agreement in the last two years.
He alleged that most of the defaulters of the NJIC are Nigerian ship owners who do not yield to the terms of agreement.
Yousuo who doubles as the Chairman of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Seafarers’ Section for Africa and member of the ITF Fair practice committee Group, said that 60 percent of the workforce did not benefit from the supposed welfare package.
He added that the maritime apex regulatory agency needs to step up efforts to sanction erring ship owners for non-compliance with the arrangements.
To make the agreement effective, he advised that NIMASA should withdraw the operating licences of the defaulting vessels.
He added that compliance to the agreement should be one of the requirements for issuance and renewal of operating licences to ship owners in Nigeria.
Speaking further, the number seafarer in Africa bemoaned the unpleasant working condition of seafarers in some vessels due to lack of basic facilities pointing accusing fingers at local ship owners
The president, however, commended foreign ship owners trading in the nation’s territorial waters for understanding the rules of engagement for workers, while calling on NIMASA to act.
“The NJIC is something we have put in place, and it is expected to be reviewed every two years. Whatever we agree upon should be enforced.
”If I tell you that 60 percent of Nigerian seafarers have never benefitted from the previous NJIC we signed in the last two years.
“The enforcement process is simple, NIMASA and we the unions leaders should work together on welfare and salaries. There is a need for monitoring. Very few companies are complying. Enforcement is a major challenge seafarers are facing, and it is affecting both ratings and senior officers.
“Some vessels have no light or air conditioning. We expect NIMASA to live up to expectations to better the lot of seafarers.”
According to him, the failure of NJIC implementation was one of the major issues raised at the recently conducted NJIC meeting with NIMASA in February.
He added that multinational companies are doing better in compliance with the NJIC.
Attempts to get the response of the regulating agency, NIMASA proved abortive as calls, texts sent to Osagie Edward, Deputy Director/Head, Public Relations were neither responded to not acknowledged. Ok
