FG Approves 50% Pension Balance of Ex-Nigeria Airways Workers

By Dipo Olowookere

The 50 percent pension balance of workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited has been approved by the federal government, Business Post has learned.

This information was confirmed by the immediate past Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, during her handing over on Tuesday.

While presenting her handover notes to Dr Mahmoud Isa Dutse, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, in Abuja yesterday, the Minister said before leaving office, she was able to make President Muhammadu Buhari approve the payment of the N22.5 billion balance of the former workers of the nation’s defunct national carrier.

She said all things being equal, the beneficiaries will soon begin to receive their pension entitlements as agreed.

Last year, the former aviation workers received part of their severance package after waiting for 11 years. They underwent verification across designated centres in the country.

President of Aviation Union Grand Alliance (AUGA), Mr Lukmon Animashaun, while reacting to this development, commended President Buhari for the approval.

He also praised Mrs Ahmed and the Minister of State for Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, praying that they make the President’s cabinet in his second term in office.

Mr Animashaun described the approval by government as Minister of Finance’s “final disengagement exercise/gift to Nigeria Airways retirees.”

However, he stressed that “the union leadership have commenced work expeditiously towards ensuring prompt implementation.”