Seafarers’ Welfare: NIMASA facilitates signing of landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement

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In furtherance of its effort to ensure
improved working conditions for seafarers in the country, the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has midwifed the signing of the
Nigerian Seafarers Conditions of Service Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The agreement signed at the Agency’s
headquarters in Lagos was with the endorsement of the National Joint Industrial
Council (NJIC) Collective Bargaining Agreement on minimum standards on
conditions of service for Nigerian seafarers in both coastal and offshore
sectors.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, expressed his belief that
proper implementation of the agreement would bring about significant
improvement in seafarers’ working conditions.

Dakuku said, “As an Agency, we are happy to
midwife this process that will enhance the welfare of our seafarers. I wish to
commend the seafarers’ employers in the offshore and coastal sectors for their
cooperation and understanding in seeing through the whole process.

“In the same vein, I wish to implore them
to also ensure that the CBA, which is meant to guide ship-owners in their
bipartite negotiations and the development of all employment agreements, is
implemented as endorsed.”

The DG, who was represented by the
Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Gambo Ahmed,
added that the conditions of service of the CBA is a minimum standard in line
with the extant national and international regulations and must be met by all
employers of seafarers.

Mr. Gambo who is also the Chairman of the
NJIC urged employers to note that the enhancement of welfare of seafarers will
in turn enhance productivity and effective job performance.

Some of the stakeholders at the occasion
were Mrs. Wasilat Mohammed Adamu, who co-signed the agreement in her capacity
as representative of the Federal Ministry of Transportation; Mr. Magnus Ibe of
Bourbon International Limited; Mr. Alalade Matthew, representing the Nigeria
Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association
(NMNO/WTSSA); Director, Maritime Labour Services, NIMASA, Mr. Ibrahim Jibril;
and Director, Special Duties, NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka.

In attendance to witness the event were key
maritime stakeholders from the offshore and coastal maritime sectors, Maritime
Workers Union (MWUN), Association of Manning Agents of Nigeria (AMAN), National
Seafarers Welfare Board (NSWB), as well as representatives of the Federal
Ministry of Transportation, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and
management staff of NIMASA.

It would be recalled that the CBA for the
fishing sector had earlier been signed, and with the signing of the agreement
for the coastal and offshore sectors, Nigerian seafarers now have a complete
CBA.

NIMASA has consistently thrown its weight behind measures aimed at
ensuring employers of seafarers fall in line with extant and international
regulations.