Nigerian seafarers get 150% pay rise

Nigerian seafarers have recorded a more than 150 per cent increase in earnings follow-ing the adoption of international wage standards by the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC). The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NI-MASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, announced the development at the 2026 Day of the Seafar-er celebration in Lagos. He […]

Nigerian seafarers have recorded a more than 150 per cent increase in earnings follow-ing the adoption of international wage standards by the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC).
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NI-MASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, announced the development at the 2026 Day of the Seafar-er celebration in Lagos.
He said the integration of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and Inter-national Labour Organization (ILO) wage scale into seafarers’ conditions of service was aimed at improving welfare and aligning Nigeria’s maritime labour standards with global best practices.
Mobereola noted that maritime transport accounts for over 80 per cent of global trade volume and more than 70 per cent of trade value, making seafarers critical to global commerce.
He added that NIMASA has trained over 2,459 cadets through its Nigerian Seafarers De-velopment Programme (NSDP) and remains committed to enforcing the Maritime La-bour Convention (MLC) 2006 while expanding access to training, certification and sea-time opportunities.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshi-lokun, pledged continued legislative support for maritime sector growth, including initia-tives to improve safety, modernise port infrastructure, strengthen indigenous shipping and create jobs.
He stressed the need for sustained investment in maritime education and capacity building to position Nigeria as a leading maritime nation and unlock opportunities in the blue economy.
The annual Day of the Seafarer celebrates the contributions of maritime workers and promotes policies that advance their welfare and the sustainable growth of the industry.