Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has again midwifed the signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for Nigerian Seafarers’ Conditions of Service.
The agreement, signed at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos with the endorsement of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC), is an agreement on minimum standards on conditions of service for Nigerian seafarers in both coastal and offshore sectors.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dakuku Peterside, director-general of NIMASA, said the proper implementation of the agreement would bring about significant improvement in seafarers’ working conditions.
Peterside, who commended the seafarers’ employers in the offshore and coastal sectors for their understanding, implored the employers to ensure that the CBA, which is meant to guide ship-owners in their bipartite negotiations and the development of all employment agreements, was implemented as endorsed.
Represented by Gambo Ahmed, executive director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, said the conditions of service of the CBA was in line with the extant national and international regulations and must be met by all employers of seafarers.
He said the enhancement of welfare of seafarers would in turn enhance productivity and effective job performance.
In attendance to witness the event were 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.
Recall 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.
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