By Joshua Yousouph
Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that no fewer than eight disengaged seafarers of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) have died in 2025 alone, while awaiting their long-overdue entitlements from the Federal Government. This is even as several others remain either hospitalized, bedridden with stroke, and battling life-threatening ailments linked to years of hardship and neglect.
For decades, hundreds of ex-seafarers have awaited their severance packages following the liquidation of NNSL in 1995. While successive governments have promised to settle the entitlements, bureaucratic delays and repeated verification exercises have kept the aging ex-workers abandonment, forcing many into poverty, illness, and untimely death.
In 2024, no fewer than 13 of the disengaged seafarers of the liquidated NNSL died, about seven months after a verification exercise was conducted to facilitate payment of their gratuities and retirement benefits. The deaths are in addition to several others who have been confined to hospital beds due to severe health challenges.
Recall that Shipping Position Daily in February 2025 was informed that the Federal Ministry of Finance was processing the claims of the ex-workers, fueling hopes that the overdue payments will be disbursed before the end of March.
Despite heavy rainfall on Tuesday last week, dozens of the ex-seafarers were seen at their union’s secretariat on Marine Road, Lagos, hoping for fresh updates. But once again, they left with none. However, one of the affected ex-seafarers, Hassan Muhammed, said the years of delay have left many of his colleagues in despair.
Muhammed, however, commended the efforts of the new leadership of the MWUN under the current President-General Bunu Francis. He noted that union leaders have been making repeated trips to Abuja to engage with the Ministries of Marine and Blue Economy, Labour, and Finance.
According to Hassan, the ministry of Finance is planning another round of verification ahead of payment. He said the seafarers are now drawing comparisons with former Nigerian Airways staff, who recently received N46 billion in long-overdue benefits. “Nigerian Airways workers got their money after many years. Ours will also come, but the question is how many of us will still be alive to enjoy it?” Hassan asked bitterly.
“This year alone, about seven to eight of our people have died. Since the last verification exercise, we have lost more. Just two weeks ago, we heard of a woman who had a stroke. Some are still on sickbeds at home and can’t even come to the office anymore,” he lamented.
Also speaking, another ex-seafarer, Mr. Ijia Godwin disclosed that progress has been slow, but ongoing, with fresh verification procedures expected soon. According to him, the process is now awaiting confirmation from the Minister of Finance, who will conduct a second verification round before disbursement.
Godwin added that stakeholders were waiting for the official publication of the amounts and the subsequent notice that would pave the way for disbursement.
Giving an update, he disclosed that: “By last Monday, we heard that the branch president (of the union) would be travelling, so we are expecting some solid news by next week. They are going to do a second verification. Once they publish the bulk amount in the media, they will follow-up with the verification notice and then payment” Godwin said
When contacted, the President of the Seamen Branch of the MWUN, Comrade Sunday Avoseh told our correspondent last week, that the matter is already with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance in Abuja and that any moment from now, the industry will hear good news about the disbursement.
