The Federal Government has concluded payment of outstanding severance benefits to 2,100 former workers of Nigeria Airways Limited, more than two decades after the national carrier was liquidated.
The Federal Ministry of Finance said in a statement Friday that the payments covered beneficiaries in Batches 1 to 7 and represented severance benefits owed to the affected former employees.
The ministry said Batches 8 and 9, comprising 600 beneficiaries, were being finalised and the beneficiaries were expected to receive their payments within days.
The payments will bring the total number of former Nigeria Airways workers covered to 2,700, with total benefits of N18 billion across the nine batches.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier approved the settlement of the outstanding severance obligations and directed that the longstanding matter be brought to a conclusion.
Under the direction of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, the ministry said it had identified eligible beneficiaries, validated records and established the financial obligations before payments commenced.
Oyedele said the payment reflected the government's commitment to addressing legitimate outstanding obligations and prioritising the welfare of Nigerians.
“Behind these figures are people and families who have waited for years to receive what is legitimately due to them,” Oyedele said.
He said the exercise demonstrated what could be achieved when government institutions worked together to resolve longstanding issues, while ensuring that legitimate beneficiaries received their approved entitlements and public funds were protected.
The ministry also acknowledged the role of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the National Assembly Joint Committees on Aviation in advancing efforts to settle the outstanding benefits.
The payment process included extensive verification of beneficiary records, including biometric capture and validation of personal and banking information.
According to the Director in charge of the Presidential Initiative and Continuous Audit Department, Seldam Dangin, the ministry is preparing a second-phase mop-up exercise for beneficiaries whose records could not be processed during the first phase.
Dangin said the exercise would address inaccurate or outdated information, additional biometric verification and corrections to banking details. It would also cover deceased beneficiaries, with next of kin or estates required to complete the necessary verification and legal processes before payment.
The mop-up exercise is expected to begin by the end of September or early October, subject to final arrangements.
The ministry said the payment to the first seven batches, alongside the readiness of Batches 8 and 9, marks a major step toward resolving the longstanding severance obligation to former Nigeria Airways workers.
Comments
Add a comment