The Federal Government has paid N4.25 billion in excellent pension and severance advantages to one other 600 former staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited, bringing the entire variety of beneficiaries paid to 3,300.
The newest disbursement covers the tenth and eleventh batches of beneficiaries, in accordance to an announcement issued on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The ministry’s Head of Media, Efe Ovuakporie, mentioned the fee shaped a part of the federal government’s efforts to settle longstanding monetary obligations to former staff of the nationwide service.
“The Federal Government has paid N4.25bn in outstanding pension and severance benefits to an additional 600 beneficiaries of Nigeria Airways Limited, bringing the total number of beneficiaries paid across 11 batches to 3,300,” the assertion mentioned.
The ministry mentioned the primary 9 batches coated 2,700 beneficiaries, whereas the newest fee prolonged the train to one other 600 eligible people.
The newest disbursement brings the reported gross funds to N22.25 billion, comprising the N18 billion beforehand introduced for two,700 beneficiaries and the extra N4.25 billion.
However, the ministry didn’t disclose the entire quantity paid throughout all batches in its newest assertion or the excellent legal responsibility to former workers and their households.
More than twenty years of unpaid advantages
In January 2025, the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation mentioned the Federal Government owed former Nigeria Airways workers N36 billion. The lawmakers threatened to withhold approval of the aviation ministry’s finances until provisions have been made to settle the excellent obligations.
At the time, lawmakers mentioned some former staff had died whereas ready for his or her entitlements, whereas others have been dealing with monetary hardship.
In September, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Federal Government had begun paying N18 billion in excellent severance advantages to 2,700 former Nigeria Airways workers, more than twenty years after the airline ceased operations.
The authorities mentioned it had paid 2,100 former workers within the first seven batches, whereas one other 600 beneficiaries have been being processed for fee. The 9 batches have been anticipated to cowl 2,700 folks, with the advantages totalling N18 billion.
The airline, established in 1958, ceased operations in 2003 and was liquidated in 2004. Its closure left unresolved pension and severance obligations, prompting years of calls for from former staff and their households for fee of their entitlements.
The dispute has continued by means of successive administrations.
Payments to deceased workers’ households
The Ministry of Finance mentioned the verification and validation of claims submitted by the following of kin of deceased former Nigeria Airways staff have been ongoing.
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According to the ministry, the train is meant to set up eligibility and reconcile claims with permitted information earlier than funds are authorised.
“The Ministry will continue to process verified claims in line with applicable procedures, ensuring that payments are made to eligible beneficiaries,” the assertion mentioned.
The ministry mentioned the newest disbursement would supply monetary reduction to former workers who had waited years for his or her entitlements and would assist resolve verified excellent claims.
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