By Dipo Olowookere
Former workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways have been assured that their N45 billion severance package would be paid to them after the Easter break next month.
Federal Government declared March 30 and April 2, 2018 as public holiday to mark the Easter celebration.
This week, the three major unions in the aviation industry; the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) gave government 14 days to pay their former members or they will embark on a nationwide strike.
The unions said it was bad that government has failed to pay the pensioners after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the payment on September 20, 2017.
Addressing newsmen on Thursday on the sidelines of the 4th Aviation Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja, Minister of State for Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, assured that the pensioners would be paid after the break.
According to him, the money has been provided for, but the Senate has to approve it. He said the House of Representatives has already approved the payment.
“The money has been provided and we are willing to pay, but we have to legalise it by going through the National Assembly to approve and stamp it.
“It is the requirement of the law and this government will always do things in accordance with the law. So, we will pay the workers,” he said.
Mr Sirika explained that, “Every expenditure of government needs a legislative stamp, including that for Nigeria Airways pensioners.
“The House of Representatives has already dealt with the matter and passed it. So, once they pass it at the Senate, which is after Easter, we will go ahead and pay.”
The Minister appealed to the pensioners to be patient, noting that Senate promised to approve the payment after the Easter break and government would make the payment within two weeks after the approval.
