The Federal Government has commenced the settlement of long-outstanding severance benefits owed former workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited, with 2,100 beneficiaries in Batches 1 to 7 already paid.
Another 600 former workers in Batches 8 and 9 are expected to receive their entitlements within days, bringing the total number of beneficiaries covered by the exercise to 2,700.
The nine batches are entitled to a combined N18 billion, ending a protracted wait for former employees of the national carrier, which was liquidated more than two decades ago.
The payment followed President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the settlement of the outstanding severance obligations, with the President directing the government to bring the longstanding matter to a conclusion.
Under the supervision of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, the Federal Ministry of Finance undertook the processes of identifying eligible beneficiaries, validating records and determining the financial obligations before payments commenced.
Oyedele said the exercise demonstrated the government’s commitment to settling legitimate 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.
“Our responsibility is to confront outstanding obligations, complete the necessary processes and, once the resources are secured, ensure that the people affected feel the impact of government positively,” he said.
The minister said the exercise also demonstrated the importance of collaboration among government institutions in resolving longstanding issues, stressing that legitimate beneficiaries would receive their approved entitlements while safeguards would be maintained to protect public funds.
The Ministry acknowledged the contribution of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, whose engagement with the Finance Ministry helped sustain efforts to resolve the matter.
The National Assembly Joint Committees on Aviation also played a role through their oversight and engagement on the outstanding benefits.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, were said to have been actively involved in efforts to secure the settlement of the former workers’ entitlements.
The payment exercise involved extensive verification of beneficiaries, including biometric capture and validation of personal and bank details, to ensure that the funds reached the rightful recipients.
Meanwhile, the Director in charge of the Presidential Initiative and Continuous Audit (PICA) Department, Seldam Dangin, disclosed that the ministry was preparing a second-phase mop-up exercise to accommodate beneficiaries whose records could not be processed during the initial exercise.
Dangin said the mop-up would address inaccurate or outdated records, additional biometric verification and correction of banking details.
It would also cover cases involving deceased beneficiaries, with next of kin or estates required to complete the relevant verification and legal procedures before payment.
The mop-up exercise is expected to commence by the end of September or early October, subject to final arrangements.
The payment of the first seven batches, alongside the readiness of Batches 8 and 9, marks a significant step towards resolving the severance obligations owed former Nigeria Airways workers, while the planned mop-up is expected to address remaining eligible cases.
