Senate Commit chair, Navy chief voice support for payment NNSL retirees’ pensions, CVFF disbursement
Maureen Aguta
As the President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju at the event in Lagos, on Tuesday, to commemorate the International Day of the Seafarers reiterated his call on the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to without any further delay, commence the payment of the pensions of the over 2000 retirees of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL), the Chairman Senate Committee on Maritime Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun has assured that the Nigerian Senate will expedite action of the budget for the payment of the former seafarers of NNSL whenever the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency (NIMASA) brings it forward.
Senator Eshinlokun who gave the assurance during his goodwill message at the well attended 2024 Day of the Seafarers event, assured that the Senate chamber and their 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 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. When 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”.
Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Hassan, noted that tremendously achievement the Navy in collaboration with the NIMASA has made in maintaining zero piracy on the Nigerian waters for two years. He said however that the Nigerian maritime industry needs investment, calling for the disbursement of CVFF. According to him the Nigerian maritime industry needs capital investment to boost the nation’s ship owning capacity, end unemployment of the seafarers being trained across the world under the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP).
President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju had during his goodwill message called on Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, as well as the Director General of NIMASA to expedite action and ensure that the NNSL retirees get paid their due pensions 28 years after the liquidation of NNSL.