Follow Us on Google
Aged seafarers formerly employed by the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) have renewed their appeal to the Federal Government over unpaid pensions and other entitlements, 31 years after the national carrier collapsed.
The affected pensioners, under the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), said they had endured decades of hardship and uncertainty while waiting for the government to resolve the issue of their outstanding benefits.
Many of the former seafarers, now advanced in age, are reportedly struggling with health challenges and other difficulties associated with old age. The union said the affected seafarers had undergone a verification exercise about three years ago at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Sports Centre, Surulere, Lagos.
The exercise was conducted under the auspices of the then President-General of MWUN, Comrade Prince (Dr.) Adewale Adeyanju, and his executive council, with the guidance of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
According to the union, several of the aged seafarers had died before and after the verification exercise, while others had become incapacitated or were battling serious medical conditions.
The union said some of the surviving pensioners were unable to afford essential medical treatment, leaving them increasingly vulnerable.
MWUN said it had continued to engage NIMASA and other relevant authorities in an effort to secure payment of the former sailors’ pensions and entitlements.
However, the union expressed concern that the prolonged delay had subjected many of the pensioners to severe financial hardship, with some reportedly resorting to self-medication because they could not afford adequate healthcare.
The union’s current President-General, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, has made the welfare of the aged seafarers a major priority since assuming office.
Other News
Bunu said the plight of the former sailors was unacceptable, considering their years of service to the nation, and maintained that workers who had rendered diligent and meritorious service deserved to receive their pensions and benefits.
Bunu was also said to have sustained engagements with the affected pensioners, including receiving them at the union’s headquarters on Osho Drive, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos.
He said that he has consistently briefed them on developments concerning the matter and urged them to remain patient, assuring them that discussions with the Federal Government, relevant ministries and agencies were ongoing.
He appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the payment of the outstanding pensions and entitlements, warning that time was critical for the elderly beneficiaries.
He noted that some of the former seafarers were now living with disabilities, including blindness and stroke, while others were reportedly confined to wheelchairs, homeless or struggling to meet their basic needs.
Bunu stressed that retirement should offer former workers an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their labour rather than expose them to prolonged hardship.
He urged the government and all relevant authorities to find a lasting solution to the issue and provide relief to the surviving pensioners, many of whom have spent decades waiting for their entitlements.
He reiterated its commitment to pursuing the matter until the outstanding benefits are resolved, appealing to the authorities to act urgently in the interest of the aged seafarers.
Bunu said prompt intervention could bring relief to the surviving pensioners and ensure that those who devoted their working lives to Nigeria’s maritime sector are not left without support in their twilight years.
