After 13 years of agitation the federal government has finally given approval of N450 billion for the payment of gratuities and other retirement benefits to the former staff of defunct Nigeria Airways.
This is a cheering news, especially for the ex-workers of NAL many of whom might have given up hope for the payment of their severance package.
Initially the federal government and the ex-workers worked on N87 billion but this amount might have been reviewed downwards to N450 billion, but kudos should be given to this administration for rescuing the remnants of the people who laboured for this historic national carrier that was liquidated by the federal government under the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2004.
Since 2004 the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL) was liquidated by the federal government, the workers of the once one of Africa’s greatest carriers have clamoured for pay off, as the airline’s liquidation was a decision taken by Nigeria’s government. With the pay off, labour issues concerning the defunct airline would be permanently settled, but this was not to be 13 years after NAL went under.
It was learnt that some years ago, the workers were given five years retirement payment after the liquidation but they rightly demanded for pay off, and after so many years of agitation, there seems to be hope that the ex-Nigeria Airways workers would get their pay. This was after several years the labour unions had cried themselves hoarse, obstructed aviation activities on behalf of the workers and risked their lives and their jobs. This was also after some of the ex-workers had died in penury and or lost their loved ones because they had no money to care for them.
Making these disclosures while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in the Presidential Villa, the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said following the approval of N450 billion by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had been instructed to put the machinery in place for payment of the ex-staff of Nigeria Airways.
One of the outstanding ex-Nigeria Airways workers who fought for the realisation of this payment, Dr Steve Mahonwu thanked the federal government for this good gesture and noted that the amount approved was short of what should have been paid to them, but they would take the payment and then continue to hope government would add to it, noting that the money is their right and is not negotiable. he gve kudos to the Buhari administration that made this possible.
“We thank those who made it possible. This is a relief so we take it and continue to struggle for more. It is our benefit so it is not negotiable but we thank the federal government and all the people who contributed to make this possible,” Mahonwu said.
It was also gathered that when the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika was appointed, he sped up the process of the pay off for the ex-NAL workers. His efforts yielded fruit as N87 billion was earmarked for the settlement of the former workers, most of whom are now geriatric personalities with their good experiences a remote memory of distant past.
Many of them have also lost their lives while waiting for this payment but as the cliche goes: better late than never.
