The Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport senior Staff Association has said that the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) on wages will be implemented before the end of June 2019.
Recall that under the NJIC agreement signed by the unions, ship owners and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on seafarers’ salaries ought to be reviewed every two years, but the agreement has not been implemented since 2010.
Attempts to ensure the implementation of the agreement was allegedly frustrated in 2016 by NIMASA.
But reacting to this, the Deputy Secretary General of Merchant Navy, Mr. John Oklpono, told Shipping Position Daily that the agreement will be implemented later this month immediately after the seafarers’ day.
“On the NJIC, we have commenced discussion and they have given us their word that before the end of this month or immediately after the seafarers’ day, we will commence the process of implementing the NJIC. We have also asked the agency to look at the cost implication of the certificate of medical, we have also discussed that”, he added.
Okpono however warned against casualization of seafarers, especially in the fishery sector saying that it will soon be a thing of the past.
“We have gone ahead to discuss the issue of casualization in the fishing industry. Some of these coastal vessels that employ people without letter of engagement, the agency which is NIMASA is aware of that as we are working hand in hand to ensure that an average Nigeria seafarer is not giving a slave job. We are working in collaboration with NIMASA”, he said.
Speaking on Cabotage waiver, he argued that the clause should include training of Nigerians to handle some of the foreign vessels coming into the country.
“There are conditions on waiver ; you can even give waiver on the conditions of training Nigerians on the job for another two to three years, these are conditions to waiver clause, the waiver clause is not just you must waive. When you come with a vessel and there is no Nigerian to handle the vessel, the Cabotage regime should mandate the company to employ a Nigerian to under study the foreigner for a period of two to three years”
According to him, “last two weeks we were with the Executive Director maritime labour and Cabotage to discuss the way forward; for instance the Nigeria seafarers that were sacked on Dangote vessel. So all the Nigerians that were on the on board we had a meeting with the Executive Director they have started calling them back, they have interviewed fresh ones, that is the way forward”
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