The Federal Government has assured workers of the defunct national carrier, Nigerian Airways, that they will get their outstanding 50 percent severance and retirement benefits.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in December 2018 approved 50 percent of severance and retirement benefits to 5,966 workers of the former national carrier.
The federal government said Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and the Ministry of Finance have been mandated to draw up the modalities to pay the outstanding.
Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
He said: “If you recall, in 2004 they hurriedly liquidated the Nigerian Airways without recourse to the workers and no provision was made for them and they were ignored for a very long time until when this government came.
“When we came in, remember the national revenue was going down, we were in recession at the time and oil prices had dropped from $140 to below $30 and even within that time, Mr. president thought it very important to pay up the workers and we were asked to compile the list and compute the amount which we did diligently and sent to Mr. President.
“Mr. President paid 50percent of the money at that time and promised that he would pay the rest and PTAD and Ministry of Finance have been asked to draw up the modalities to finish paying the balance and that will be done.
“From the civil aviation ministry, we have done our parts, we have computed, forwarded to the government, secured the payment and the payment is going on and I am very sure that between PTAD and Finance, the remaining balance will be paid.”
