Senate Committee on Marine Backs MWUN Over Struggle for Payment of Ex-NNSL Seafarers

—Over 2,000 Seafarers Yet to Get Pension 28-Years After, Says Comrade Adeyanju

—Union Pushes for NIMASA Owned Training Vessel

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Chairman Senate Committee on Maritime Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun has declared support for the Maritime Workers Union in its 28-years struggle for the payment of aged seafarers who were ex-staff of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL)

Senator Eshinlokun pledged the red chamber support at the commemoration of the Day of the Seafarer 2024 organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Lagos on Tuesday.

The Senate Committee Chairman also assured that his colleagues from the House of Representatives would be ready to support the union and append signatures to all their demands as soon as they are articulated and forwarded to the National Assembly by NIMASA.

“I want to acknowledge and commend the efforts of Comrade Adewale Adeyanju (MWUN President General) for his wisdom and push for a better welfare for Nigerian seafarers

“From the Senate and on behalf of my colleagues at the House of Representatives, we are ready to work with NIMASA in finding solutions to all these challenges.
Whenn NIMASA brings it forward, we would expeditiously append our signatures and made funds available.

“I want to pledge the National Assembly’s collective commitment to advancing the rights, welfare and safety of Nigerian seafarers. Your contributions are deeply valued and appreciated” Eshinlokun stated

Senator Eshinlokun also said that the Lawmakers are working to ensure quick disbursement of the Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF) to deserving shipowners, adding that the fund has been seating idle for too long.

He said “concerning the CVFF, time for disbursement is now, we cannot continue to wait any longer”

Speaking earlier, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju called on the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, as well as the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola to expedite action and ensure that the NNSL retiree get paid their pension and privileges.

“Today being the Day of the Seafarer, we are appreciating seafarers that have contributed immensely to the economy of this country and to the success that everybody is enjoying today.
But it is shameful that we still have close to 2,000 seafarers that are yet to be paid their pension.

“We should encourage indigenous shipowners to get more vessels so that the seafarers being churned out of the academies can be gainfully employed.

“Today, the certificate being given to our seafarers are not being recognised even in Africa, the certification should be worked upon, we have all the resources needed to upgrade the standard of our seafarers.

Comrade Adeyanju also urged NIMASA to acquire a vessel of its own dedicated specifically for training of seafarers.

DAILY TREND reports that recently, the union commenced physical verification of the NNSL retirees and agenda seafarers as part of steps to ensure payment of their pension and packages.