Retirees of the liquidated national carrier, Nigeria Airways, have voiced their distress over the Federal Government's failure to pay their N36 billion pension arrears, 22 years after the airline's liquidation. The retirees, under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to direct the Ministry of Finance to release the funds.
Speaking during a peaceful protest in Lagos, the group's spokesperson, Olufemi Ashogbon, stated that members have been in a hopeless state since the airline was liquidated in 2003 by the Federal Government. He noted that last year, the President approved the payment of the N36 billion pension arrears, but the funds have yet to be released.
Ashogbon explained that the union has written several letters to the Ministry of Finance regarding the outstanding severance pension payment but has received no concrete decision. 'Our members are dying in droves. Many of them are on sick beds waiting helplessly for the last breath on earth. We appreciate the President's approval, and we also use this opportunity to appeal to our President to help look into this,' he said.
In a communique signed by the union's former President of Aircraft Pilot and Engineer, Kyari Ayuba, and Former Director of Finance, Bose Oluwo, the union recalled that in 2004, when Nigeria Airways was liquidated, about 6,000 workers were disengaged without full severance benefits under Nigerian labour laws, while foreign nationals were fully paid according to international labour standards.
The communique described the challenge for many employees as the beginning of a long period of suffering and uncertainty. 'The total agreed amount for this settlement was N78 billion. Over the years, successive administrations made partial payments toward this obligation. However, by the time those payments ended, the outstanding balance stood at approximately N36 billion.'
'Many of the affected former workers are now elderly citizens aged between 65 and 101 years. These men and women served Nigeria faithfully during their active years as pilots, engineers, cabin crew, technicians, administrators, accountants, and other aviation professionals who helped build the nation's aviation industry.'
'Last year, hope was rekindled when Tinubu graciously approved the payment of the outstanding N36 billion owed to the ex-staff and pensioners of Nigerian Airways. But up till today, the fund has not been released by the finance ministry. We respectfully appeal to the Minister of Finance and the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently resolve this matter by approving and releasing the outstanding severance benefits,' it concluded.
