The Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association has commended the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for its efforts at improving the welfare of Nigerian seafarers, while calling for stronger regulatory actions to protect workers in the sector.
The commendation was given by the National President of the Association, Chief Engineer Bob Joseph Yousuo, during the inaugural meeting of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) held last Friday in Lagos.
Yousuo, a seasoned seafarer and Chair of the ITF Africa Fair Play Committee, praised the NIMASA Director-General and his team for their commitment to maritime labour development.
While applauding the agency’s initiatives, the union leader urged NIMASA to intensify efforts in critical areas that directly affect seafarers’ welfare and professionalism. Yousuo stressed the need for the immediate commencement, completion and signing of the NJIC agreement to strengthen industrial harmony in the maritime sector.
He also tasked NIMASA to closely monitor shipping companies for compliance with labour standards, insisting that all operators must have individual Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with their respective unions. According to him, such CBAs should form part of NIMASA’s mandatory checklist before the renewal of any shipping company’s operating licence.
Raising concerns over operational bottlenecks, the Association called for the timely release of Certificates of Competency (COCs) after examinations, noting that delays have continued to impose hardship on seafarers seeking employment and career progression.
On remuneration, the union urged NIMASA to prevail on shipping companies to prioritise prompt payment of seafarers’ wages, describing delayed salaries as one of the major challenges confronting maritime workers in Nigeria.
The association further appealed for structured sea-time opportunities for cadets, asking NIMASA to work out modalities with shipping companies to absorb cadets for mandatory sea training. It also called for the training of Nigerian officers in advanced professional courses, pointing out that the high cost of such programmes remains a barrier to capacity development.
According to the union, NIMASA, as the industry regulator, must ensure that these directives are fully implemented to improve the welfare, productivity and livelihood of Nigerian seafarers.
The statement was signed by the Secretary General of the Association, Comrade; Aleakhue John Okpono.
