The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have begun discussions on how to resolve the lingering issue of terminal benefits of seafarers whose appointments were terminated due to the liquidation of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).
NIMASA’s Director General, Dr Bashir Jamoh, and MWUN’s President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, jointly announced an agreement for physical verification of the affected seafarers or next of kin, the nature of appointment of all affected seafarers, and the exact amount due each beneficiary.
The NIMASA DG also assured the union that their position would be communicated to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, to ensure government takes all necessary actions to bring to a conclusion, the issue of NNSL.
“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 N100 million 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”, Jamoh said.
Adeyanju, who is also Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, restated MWUN’s commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes; and that the rights and privileges of workers are well protected, without disrupting productivity in the maritime sector. He commended the Jamoh-led management, urging others to follow suit.
“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 N100 million to offset the terminal benefits. However, if others like Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers C
