FG to settle next of kin of 800 deceased ex-Airways workers

The Federal Government assured yesterday that the recent settlement of pensioners of the defunct Nigeria Airways covers the next of kin of those who are deceased. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed spoke Friday at the rally held by the ex-workers in support of the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari. The ex-workers amidst […]

The Federal Government assured yesterday that the recent settlement of pensioners of the defunct Nigeria Airways covers the next of kin of those who are deceased.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed spoke Friday at the rally held by the ex-workers in support of the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The ex-workers amidst criticisms staged the rally, saying after 14 years of suffering during which 800 of their members died, Buhari came to their aid by paying 50 cent of the entitlement and vowing to settle all outstanding severance packages.

About hundreds of the affected ex-workers converged at the Skypower catering complex along the Murtala Muhammed Airport road to organize the rally.

Mohammed said other beneficiaries that have benefited from government’s compassionate gesture to lift its senior citizens out of penury included ex-Biafra police, ex- workers of the Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL) as well as workers of the Ajala Delta Steel Company.

He regretted that successive governments ignored the cries of the ex-workers and left them in the lurch.

The Minister said, “This administration’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians led President Muhammadu Buhari to end the 14-year wait and suffering of 5,996 former staffers of Nigeria Airways, who have started receiving payments of their pension arrears and other benefits from government.

“It is noteworthy that since the liquidation of Nigeria Airways, successive administrations have failed to settle the ex-staffers, leading to untold suffering and loss of human dignity by affected people.

“It is not just former staffers of Nigeria Airways who have benefited from the people-oriented policy of this administration as former Biafran policemen, former workers of Aladja Delta Steel Company and former Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL) workers have also seen their years of suffering and neglect come to an end thanks to President Buhari.”

“For over 800 deceased ex-staff of Nigeria Airways, their next of kin will also receive the entitlements due to them.”

Co-ordinator of the Ex-pensioners’ rally and former President of Aviation Union’s Grand Alliance (AUGA), Engineer Lookman Animashuan said the rally was in response to the humanitarian gesture of the Buhari’s administration.

He flayed the criticisms in some quarters, saying past administrations ignored them when they wallowed in neglect and poverty.

Animashuan said, “We are not coercing anybody to join the rally; people are doing so out of their free will. Nobody can stop anybody’s payment. People talking like that are myopic. Me I can’t stop anyone’s payment, it’s already there and they have got 50% and they are no more doing verification anyway so the moment the other one is ready it will be sent to their accounts and so it is not true that we coerced people.”