How MWUN Has Helped In Repositioning Nigerian Seafarers’ On Welfare Packages,Job Security – Bunu

The Deputy President General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Abi Bunu at the weekend explained how the union’s efforts has helped to reposition the fortune of Nigeria seafarers (ratings) from job insecurity to permanent employment and enviable National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) recognised by the government.

The DPG who spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the Success in Leadership Conference and Awards held in Lagos, explained on the efforts of the union to reposition the profession.

Bunu who won the Maritime Icon Award for 2024 , maintained that seafarers who were victims of job insecurity now have a formidable voice that speaks for them

According to him, seafarers used to earn stipends without hope of pension or payoff after many years of service but added that the union has been able to secure a golden Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)for the seafarers which makes them no more vulnerable.

He enthused that Nigeria seafarers have some bargaining agreements that foreigners do not have noting that some of the Nigerian seafarers now have better pay package than foreigners do.

Bunu also clamoured for the revamping of a National Shipping Line to boost capacity for teeming youths who are passionate for the seafaring profession.

Text of the interview, “Some of you may not know seafaring business, I am a seafarer and I know what I was earning when I was at the sea. I worked with both foreign and Nigerian owned vessels which are some of the biggest vessels in West Africa in those days which are owned by Nigerians.

“We are happy for the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria MWUN to form the union because seafarers have nobody that was speaking for them before now. When I was at sea, my salary was N25 thousand but today, some of the seafarers are earning in dollars equating our foreign counterparts foreign members who are with NLNG Tetracycline and many others

“In some of the vessels that we unionized, some ABs are earning up to 600 to 700 thousand naira and seafarers today, .he NJIC recognized by the federal government through NIMASA

“The union has done a lot when it comes to seafarers. Today, you cannot just sack a seafarer at will the way it used to be and you cannot treat a seafarer anyhow because you are an employer because there are rules and regulations right now. The union ensures that the laid down rules are strictly affected to.

“As of today, there are some benefits that Nigerian seafarers enjoy that foreign seafarers do not enjoy.

“I can tell you that the era of hire and fire by employers is gone because seafarers now have job security, permanent employment. For instance, in NLNG, GAC, BW Gas, NYK, all those companies he give seafarers permanent employment and we also have a pay off that when we grow old, we have something to fall back on.

Continuing, Bunu reiterated that “Today, we have a saving scheme for NLNG, GAC, NYK and BW Gas. Those savings scheme are not contained in the conditions of service anywhere in the world.

“When ITF saw it, they were surprised and said it was nowhere in the world but we said these are workers that have been used for years, they deserve to have something deducted and kept for rhen for future.

“Today, some complaints pay pensions for seafarers and if anything happens onboard, the union will come.to your aid. The union will not wait for anybody as.oibg as you are a member of the union.

“It is a terrible thing because when the economy does not favour businessmen, vessels will not come. In fact today, companies are shutting down while some are leaving Nigeria but what we do is that we need to merge what we have on ground.

“That is why we are appealing that we should have nation carrier so that we also can employ more seafarers and become like foreign counterparts .

He also commended the President General of MWUN Comrade Adewale Adeyanju for this immense contributions to the development of Seamen and Water Transport branch .

“I duff my hat for the President General of the union for what he has done for.seafarers. I give him kudos because he has done very well. He has laid a good foundation for us to take it up from where he stopped.

“Adeyanju has done very well when it comes to recognition of nigerisefarers.in the world. As at today, ITD London wants to build a seafarers home.in Nigeria. It had never happened before for white people.to.come.to Africa and single out Nigeria for such project. It is someone that is doing that job. He has done very well for Nigerian seafarers.

On the award as maritime icon of the year, Bunu pointed out that:”The award will spur me to do better for seafarers and the entire Maritime Workers’. It is an award that I didn’t lobby for. I was singled out for the award which calls for more service to the people”.