Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has declared a trade dispute against the Federal Ministry of Transportation over unpaid benefits of Nigeria seafarers who worked with the liquidated Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).
Addressing the embattled retirees on Tuesday at the MWUN headquarters in Lagos, the President General of the union, Com. Adewale Adeyanju decried the non-payment of the NNSL retirees’ pensions about 27 years after the liquidation of the NNSL
He said following engagement with the government regarding the payment of the retirees’ benefits which has met brickwall, the union has declared a trade dispute against the ministry. This is even as he stated that, a reconciliatory committee will be set up to look at how the seafarers can get their entitlements.
Adeyanju, who lamented the plight of the NNSL ex-employees said, “if our country has respect for retirees, I don’t think by now we will still be sitting down here talking about your gratuity or pension, it is because our past governments have no regards for people who put in their lives for this great country
“I met this issue on my table when I came in as the President General of the union, and since I came in I have been trying to see how we can resolve this matter, but now we are out against them to ensure that you get your legitimate right because you are part of the people who contributed to the success of this great country
“If our government happens to be a listening government, we shouldn’t be talking about a trade dispute against the ministry, but as it is now we have declared a trade dispute and we are waiting for the outcome.
Read Also: Provide $5m Fees Evidence, Senate Tells NIMASA
“A reconciliatory Committee will be set up to look inward and see how the rights that belong to you be given to you.
“For those of our people that have died, their families and their children will collect their rights” he said.
Recall that Shipping Position Daily had exclusively reported that the aggrieved seafarers who worked with the liquidated NNSL said they were only paid a paltry sum of N150 as monthly wages.
The aggrieved seamen had lamented that against international standard of payment for seafarers, the Nigerian government paid 60percent of their salaries in Naira while 40 per cent was paid in hard currency, which they said amounted to N150 before the NNS was liquidated in 1995, that is about 27 years ago.
Kindly like us on Facebook/twitter
