Owing to the delay in the payment of their severance package in the tune of about N78 billion, ex-workers of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways have taken to the streets to show their grievance.
One of the frontline intermediaries between the pensioners and the Federal Government stated that after the approval of their money, there is no clue as to why the money is yet to be paid even till date.
“Only the Minister of Finance can explain what is going on, not even the Minister of Aviation because all seem to be set, but we don’t understand what is causing the delay.
“We are aware that the president has approved the payment long time ago and the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, once hinted about two months ago that all is set, but as of now, we don’t know what is happening again and we demand that the Federal Government, President Muhammadu Buhari, should please; use his power to make this payment happen as many of our members are dying on a daily basis without receiving the money they laboured for.”
The protest was held early hours on Wednesday with a large number of the ex-workers in attendance at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
“Since the approval came, nobody has told us what has been approved, but as far as we are concerned, our total money is N78bn,” said national chairman, Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Mr Sam Nzene.
Mr Nzene added that “We had written a series of letters without getting any response from the authorities. About 5,909 pensioners are expected to benefit from the fund, which was raised from N1.2tn Federal Government bond that he said matured in June 2017.”
