Why NNSL Workers Have Not Received Pension Payment-Jamoh

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh has said that inability to produce employment letters by workers of the now defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) is a major reason why many of them are yet to get their pensions.

Speaking on Wednesday when the Honourable Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki hosted maritime stakeholders, unions and Associations in Lagos, Dr. Bashir Jamoh urged the retired workers to update their bio-data on the agency’s website to be eligible for their pensions.

According to Dr. Bashir Jamoh, “The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) raised an issue concerning non payment of gratuity to aged retired workers of the now defunct NNSL.

“This is not true. On the issue of gratuity, the Federal Ministry of Transportation set up a Committee and all gratuities were paid. I think where we had issues had to do with pensions of the workers.

“All the workers got paid their gratuities and that was done on a compassionate ground based on the directive of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. We were directed to pay everybody on compassionate ground, and we paid all of them.

“On the issue of pension, there was a demand for employment letters of the workers. Most of the workers of the NNSL were unable to produce employment letters. As I speak, we are yet to conclude on that.

“By the time the workers provide all necessary documents required by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, we will be able to forge ahead on payment of pensions.”