By Dipo Olowookere
The federal government has commenced payment of the balance of the N45 billion severance package of retirees of the defunct Nigeria Airways.
Business Post confirmed that the payment of the 50 per cent balance started this week as beneficiaries have started receiving their bank alerts.
One of the retirees who spoke with Business Post on Wednesday said, “Yes, it’s true, we have started getting our alerts since yesterday (Tuesday) and some this morning (Wednesday). We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for this gesture, may God continue to help him.”
In April 2020, during one of the briefings with newsmen on COVID-19, the Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, had assured that the payment of the money to the former workers of the defunct airline would be made soon.
“The President asked us to pay about 50 per cent of the affected workers then and they were paid. The remaining balance will be paid soon.
“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 had said.
Business Post recalled that in March 2018, the federal government approved the payment of N45 billion to the former aviation workers as a severance package.
However, 50 per cent of the money was paid to the beneficiaries later in 2018, with the promise to pay the balance in 2019.
This newspaper reliably gathered that the payment is being done by the federal government in batches, with batch one and two receiving their payments.
The money was supposed to be paid in July 2020, but there were issues which cropped up that delayed it. But Business Post was informed that efforts are being made to make up for the delay and beneficiaries should get their payments this month or latest before the end of the year.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Aduragbemi Omiyale