NNSL: NIMASA, MWUN Meet on Fate of the Disengaged Seafarers

Kathy Kyari

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have initiated talks to address the outstanding matter of terminal benefits for seafarers whose appointments were terminated as a result of the liquidation of the former Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).

Together, Dr. Bashir JamohOFR, the Director General of NIMASA, and Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, the Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress and President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, announced an agreement pertaining to the physical verification of affected seafarers and/or their next of kin, as applicable, as well as the nature of their appointments and the precise amount owed to each beneficiary.

Additionally, Jamoh also gave the Union the assurance that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy would be informed of their stance, ensuring that the government takes all required steps to resolve the NNSL issue.

“The issue of industrial harmony in the maritime sector is of uttermost interest to our administration at NIMASA. We have been at this for a while. NIMASA had offered 100 million naira as settlement, which the Union declined. We have also discovered that some of those demanding settlement did not even have any employment letter. We will follow the lead from our supervising Ministry and ensure the physical verification exercise is brought to a logical conclusion. Our Honorable Minister will be duly updated by the Agency. I look forward to closing this issue in months to come”, the DG said.

Comrade Adeyanju, the President General of the Maritime Workers' Union of Nigeria (MWUN), reiterated the Union's commitment to amicably resolving conflicts and ensuring that workers' rights and privileges are upheld without impairing the maritime sector's productivity. He applauded the NIMASA management under Jamoh and urged others to do the same.

“I will like to commend NIMASA under Dr Jamoh, for the unflinching commitment to industrial harmony. He is always a phone call away to resolve any issue. Yes, NIMASA offered 100 million naira to offset the terminal benefits. However, if others like Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers Council and the rest also add funds, there will be enough to go round the expected beneficiaries. As we did for dockworkers when a flat rate of two hundred thousand was paidduring port concession; that is what we want, putting into consideration the realities on ground now.