Retired seafarers of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) have raised a fresh alarm over the continued delay in the payment of the outstanding benefits owed to retired seafarers. They appealed to the Federal Ministry of Finance to urgently approve and release their entitlements before the end of this year.
Speaking exclusively with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos, one of the neglected beneficiaries, Mr Godwin Ijia lamented that many of his colleagues who served the nation diligently in the maritime sector have either died waiting or are currently living in severe economic hardship due to the government’s inaction.
According to him, although the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has made significant progress in pushing their case to the “finishing line,” the process has stalled at the desk of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, awaiting the minister’s signature for final approval.
The retired seafarer expressed deep concern that the prolonged delay could mean that the long-awaited payment may not happen before the end of the year, especially with only a few working days left in November.
“We are at crossroads,” Ijia lamented. “They’ve pushed everything right up to the desk of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry. MWUN has done that. So, we are just expecting the Minister of Finance to append his signature and publications will follow. This has been there since the last time they went to Abuja about two weeks ago.
“If it continues like this, we may not get it at the end of this year. We have only about 27 working days remaining. There is still enough time for the ministry to verify and pay, but once December comes, how will they do it?” Ijia questioned.
Another beneficiary, Victor Riman painted a grim picture of the suffering among the retired seafarers, revealing that many have died in recent months while waiting for their entitlements.
Riman however, commended MWUN for its relentless efforts in pursuing the matter, but appealed for media and public support to amplify their plight and draw the attention of the relevant authorities to their situation.
Lamenting the plight of his colleagues, he said: “People continue to die. On September 29th and in October, we lost more people. One of them waited till he was 95 years old; he didn’t get it—he died. Many of us are losing our homes, can’t afford rent or basic needs. Parents can’t provide for their children. The economic hardship is unbearable,” he stated emotionally.
“MWUN has done everything possible. They have brought it to the finishing point. What is holding it now is what we don’t know. We are only pleading that something should happen quickly. This thing needs another blowout so it can touch those people at the top to act fast.
“It doesn’t take 15 seconds to sign a document. We are praying for his good health so that he can do the needful. We have suffered long enough. We only hope that before December, this issue will be resolved and payment made,” he appealed.
The retired seafarers of the defunct NNSL have, for years, been demanding the payment of their severance benefits, which were approved by previous administrations but have remained pending despite several verification exercises and government assurances.
As the year draws to a close, the hope of these elderly citizens now hangs on the prompt action of the Ministry of Finance to finally bring relief to those who served Nigeria’s maritime industry with dedication and pride.
