By Godwin Oritse

WORKERS of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, have said they were expereincing hard times as some of their allowances have not been paid.

The workers, Vanguard gathered, took loans from some commercial banks in anticipation of the allowances.

Some of the allowances, include housing, furniture and children education, were usually paid in first week of January.

The banks, it was learned, are currently worried over the inability of NIMASA’s management to meet its financial obligation to its workers.

The affected banks have also been on the heels of the loan defaulters and had officially written to the management of the agency.

The agency, Vanguard also learned, had written back to the banks pleading with them to give it till March to meet its financial obligation to both its workers and bankers.

In a swift reaction, the agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Isichei Osambgi, a Deputy Director, said the payment of allowances had to go through due process, adding that they would be paid as soon as the process was completed.

He said: “Whoever has collected loan from any bank should go and pay and not blackmail NIMASA.

“Since there is no complain about salaries, allowances will come when due.”