NLC Expresses Displeasure Over Unpaid Pensions to Elderly Seafarers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed dissatisfaction with the non-payment of pensions and other benefits to retired and disengaged employees of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) after 29 years.

NLC president Joe Ajaero, speaking in Lagos, emphasized the congress’s concern, noting that it was particularly troubling that successive governments had failed to pay the legal entitlements of former NNSL workers despite a valid court order.

Ajaero’s comments came in response to statements made by Prince Adewale Adeyanju, the President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

He highlighted the issue of unpaid pensions and other benefits for employees of the defunct national carrier as one of the unresolved industrial issues affecting the sector during the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos.

President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government liquidated the NNSL in 1995, and since then, the battle for the payment of benefits, including pensions for former and disengaged staff, has persisted despite a valid court judgment.

Prince Adeyanju informed the NLC President and other attendees at the NEC meeting that the unpaid pensions of the aged seafarers, which he inherited, had been a serious concern for the Union for 29 years, despite efforts by previous union leaderships.

He lamented that many of the affected former employees had passed away, while others were critically ill and in urgent need of money for medical treatment. However, he noted that successive governments had been dragging their feet on making the necessary payments.

In response, the NLC President stated that it was unacceptable that, for nearly 30 years, individuals who spent their productive years serving the country had not been paid their legal benefits.

“We cannot accept it. We advise the Union to take a decision on it and the NLC will support your decision.

“This one does not require a notice from the government. The government has enough notice including the court judgement. Just resolve what you want to do and inform us. It is unacceptable for people who have served the country to be wrongly treated. We are behind you on any action you want to take. Like I said, it doesn’t need a notice or ultimatum from the government because it has enough notices.”