The Federal Government has commenced the payment of ₦18 billion in outstanding severance benefits to 2,100 former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited, more than two decades after the national carrier was liquidated.
The Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed the development on Friday, saying payments had been completed for beneficiaries in Batches 1 to 7.
Another 600 former workers in Batches 8 and 9 are being finalised for payment and are expected to receive their benefits in the coming days.
The payment follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the settlement of outstanding severance obligations owed to former Nigeria Airways workers.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the intervention reflected the government’s commitment to resolving legitimate outstanding obligations to Nigerians.
“Behind these figures are people and families who have waited for years to receive what is legitimately due to them,” Oyedele said.
“Our responsibility is to confront outstanding obligations, complete the necessary processes and, once the resources are secured, ensure that the people affected feel the impact of government positively.”
The minister said the exercise showed what could be achieved through collaboration among government institutions while maintaining safeguards in the management of public funds.
Government Begins Second-Phase Verification
According to the ministry, extensive verification was carried out before payments were made, including biometric capture and validation of beneficiaries’ personal and banking information.
The Director of the Presidential Initiative and Continuous Audit Department, Seldam Dangin, said the government was preparing a second-phase mop-up exercise for eligible former workers whose records could not be processed during the initial exercise.
The exercise will address inaccurate or outdated records, conduct additional biometric verification where required and correct banking details.
It will also cover deceased beneficiaries. Their next of kin or estates will be required to complete the relevant verification and legal procedures before payments can be released.
The mop-up exercise is expected to begin by the end of September or early October, subject to final arrangements.
FG Credits Aviation Ministry And National Assembly
The Ministry of Finance acknowledged the role of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the National Assembly Joint Committees on Aviation in efforts to resolve the long-running severance dispute.
The Senate Committee on Aviation, chaired by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, and the House Committee on Aviation, chaired by Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, were also recognised for their oversight and engagement.
The Federal Government said payments to the first seven batches, alongside preparations for Batches 8 and 9, represent a major step towards settling the longstanding obligations to former Nigeria Airways workers.
It added that the planned mop-up exercise would provide another opportunity to resolve outstanding cases and bring more eligible beneficiaries into the payment process.
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