Seafarer Wage Claims and the Ensuing Jurisdictional Conflicts: Whither Are We Bound?

Abstract

Unpaid seafarer wages constitute maritime liens, which stealthily attach to an offending vessel and vests in the Federal High Court of Nigeria, the appropriate jurisdiction to entertain such matters, when they so arise. Same had been the case until the amendment of the Constitution of Nigeria to vest exclusively in the National Industrial Court, all labour and employment related matters. This paper strives to examine the attendant brewing jurisdictional conflict that would ensue between the competing courts of record and puts forth legal opinion on the proper way to navigate through this labyrinth