The Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju has expressed concern over the prolonged delay in the payment of pension benefits and outstanding entitlements owed to aged seafarers.
Adeyanju, who is also the immediate past President-General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), made the call in a statement issued on Thursday to commemorate the 2026 Day of the Seafarer, observed annually on June 25.
Reflecting on this year’s theme, “Carrying World Trade. Carrying the Risks,” Adeyanju paid tribute to seafarers for their invaluable contribution to global commerce despite increasing challenges and security threats confronting the profession.
According to him, 2026 has been particularly challenging for seafarers due to geopolitical tensions and conflicts that have disrupted major shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.
He commended seafarers for their resilience, courage and commitment in ensuring the uninterrupted movement of goods across the world, despite operating under increasingly hazardous conditions.
Adeyanju, however, lamented the continued delay in the payment of pensions and other outstanding benefits to retired seafarers, describing the situation as unacceptable.
He recalled that a verification exercise for affected beneficiaries was conducted nearly four years ago at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) quarters in Bode Thomas, Lagos, during his tenure as President-General of MWUN, but noted that the process had yet to yield the desired results.
The labour leader expressed concern that many of the affected retirees have died while awaiting payment, while others are battling ill health and severe economic hardship.
He therefore appealed to the Federal Government to urgently clear the backlog of unpaid pensions and entitlements, stressing that retired seafarers deserve financial relief and dignity after years of service to the nation.
“It is only right to honour those to whom these benefits are due,” he said, urging relevant authorities to act without further delay.
While raising concerns over the welfare of retired seafarers, Adeyanju commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy for ongoing efforts to transform Nigeria’s ports and maritime sector.
He, however, called for the reinstatement of onboard gangway men on berthed vessels, noting that their presence would help curb pilferage, enhance security and reduce economic losses at the ports.
Describing gangway men as the “eagle eyes” of vessels at berth, he said they play a critical role in monitoring shipboard activities and preventing unauthorized access.
Adeyanju also drew attention to challenges facing the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, which he said continues to produce graduates with limited access to sea-time training and professional certification.
He urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to take concrete steps to ensure that graduates of the academy are adequately certificated and equipped with the practical experience required to compete in the global maritime labour market.
The NLC Deputy President expressed appreciation to maritime employers, practitioners and stakeholders for their resilience amid prevailing economic and operational challenges, urging them to remain committed to the growth and development of the sector.
He expressed optimism that with the right policies and sustained collaboration among stakeholders, Nigeria’s maritime industry would continue to make significant contributions to national economic development.
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