Former employees of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line have appealed to the Federal Government to settle their outstanding pensions and other entitlements, 31 years after the national carrier stopped operations.
The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria said many of the affected pensioners are now facing serious health problems and financial hardship, with some struggling to afford basic necessities and medical care.
In a statement signed by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, the union said several former seafarers had died, while others had suffered strokes, lost their sight, become physically incapacitated or been confined to wheelchairs.
According to the union, some of the elderly pensioners are also living in difficult conditions, including homelessness, after spending years serving the country through the national shipping line.
MWUN said the affected seafarers underwent a verification exercise three years ago at the Nigerian Ports Authority Sports Centre in Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos. The exercise was conducted under the leadership of the then President General of the union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, with guidance from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
Despite the verification exercise, the union said the pensioners are still waiting for their outstanding entitlements to be paid.
The union disclosed that it had continued discussions with NIMASA and other relevant government agencies in an effort to resolve the matter.
MWUN President General, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, was also said to have made the welfare of the affected pensioners a priority since taking office. The union said Bunu has held several meetings with the pensioners at its headquarters in Osho Drive, Olodi Apapa, Lagos, where he updated them on efforts to secure their payments and appealed for patience.
The union also recognised the efforts of Bunu’s predecessor, Adeyanju, in pursuing the pensioners’ claims.
MWUN called on the Federal Government and relevant authorities to speed up the process of paying the outstanding benefits, warning that continued delays could further worsen the difficult circumstances faced by the elderly beneficiaries.
The union said the former seafarers served the country diligently and deserved to enjoy the benefits of their labour after retirement.
Bunu also appealed to the government to resolve the matter and restore hope to the affected pensioners, many of whom, he said, are living in deplorable conditions after decades of service to Nigeria.
