BY DAMOLA EMMANUEL
A huge relief has come the way of former employees of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways Limited, as President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of N22.68 billion to defray part of their outstanding entitlements.
The approval accounts for about half of the N45.3 billion benefits due to the workers of the liquidated airline. The reprieve came 15 years after the dissolution of the airline.
Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, broke the good news at a press conference held after meeting with the former workers.
She said: “15 years after, I’m happy to announce today, that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate release of N22.68 billion, being 50% of N45.3 billion total entitlements of the ex-workers of Nigeria Airways Limited in Liquidation.
“As you might be aware, the ex-workers of Nigeria Airways Limited (in liquidation) were not paid their retirement benefits for the past 15 years. Many ex-workers have been through untold hardship. This unfortunate situation cannot be allowed to continue under a responsible admin.”
Apart from the amount approved for the airline, Ahmed also announced the approval of another N22 billion for the education sector.
The Minister revealed the string of events leading to the approval, declaring: “Upon my resumption of office as the minister of finance, some pending fiscal issues in the aviation and education sectors were immediately brought to my attention.
“As such, I took it as a challenge to quickly address key issues regarding the settlement of existing claims in both of these sectors.
“I am happy to inform you that Mr President has graciously approved the sum of N22.68bn and N20bn to aviation and education sectors respectively.”
This aside, Ahmed also took to her twitter handle to announce the formation of an implementation committee to be headed by the Secretary of Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), Dr. M.K. Dikwa (Mni).
“I have constituted a Committee to be headed by the Secretary of Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), Dr MK Dikwa (Mni).
“Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Union of Ex-Workers of Nigeria Airways Limited (in liquidation) and Budget Office of the Federation.
“Other members of this Committee include representatives of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Federal Ministry of Finance, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.”
The defunct national carrier was established in 1958 after the dissolution of its forebear, West African Airways Corporation, WAAC. It bore the name, WAAC Nigeria until 1971 when it was rebranded and renamed as Nigeria Airways, the name it bore till its death in 2003.