‘Many Have Died, Others Are Ill’ — NLC Deputy President Raises Alarm Over Unpaid Seafarers’ Benefits
Comrade Adewale Adeyanju
—Describes MAN Oron, a vehicle without an engine
Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and former President-General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), has raised the alarm over the prolonged delay in the payment of pension benefits to aged seafarers.
Adeyanju marked the Day of the Seafarer on Thursday by honouring seafarers’ vital role in global trade and demanding urgent settlement of long-overdue pensions and outstanding wages for retired mariners.
Observing this year’s IMO theme, “Carrying World Trade. Carrying The Risks,” he noted that 2026 has been especially hazardous for seafarers, with armed conflicts disrupting critical shipping routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz.
He praised seafarers’ courage and dedication in navigating dangerous waters to sustain global commerce despite heightened risks.
A major focus of his remarks was the continued failure to settle pensions and outstanding entitlements for retired seafarers.
Adeyanju expressed deep anger over the stalled process following a verification exercise conducted at the NPA quarters in Bode Thomas nearly four years ago, an exercise carried out under his own leadership as MWUN President-General.
He warned that many beneficiaries have since died, others are gravely ill and incapacitated, while survivors remain trapped in abject poverty.
He appealed directly to the federal government to honour its obligations by clearing the backlog and providing prompt financial relief, stressing the moral imperative to restore dignity to those who served the nation at sea.
While pressing the case for retirees, Adeyanju also commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy for ongoing port transformation efforts.
He urged the minister to reinstate onboard gangway men on berthed vessels, describing them as the “eagle eyes” who safeguard ships at quay aprons and help check pilfering and economic sabotage.
He further turned his attention to the Nigerian Maritime Academy, Oron, which he described as “a vehicle without an engine,” lamenting that graduates are leaving without proper certification and with little access to sea time.
He tasked the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to ensure Oron graduates are fully certificated and employment-ready.
Adeyanju concluded by thanking maritime employers and practitioners for persevering through difficult times and urged them to keep the flag flying, expressing optimism for the sector’s future.
