About 400 former workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited are still awaiting payment of their outstanding entitlements, despite the reported recovery of the presidential approval document authorising the release of the final ₦36 billion tranche.
The development has renewed calls for the Federal Government to immediately conclude the payment process and bring an end to years of hardship suffered by former employees of the national carrier.
The Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), in a statement by its president, Air Commodore (rtd.) Ademola Onitiju, mni, described the prolonged delay as a “grave injustice” to former Nigeria Airways workers who dedicated their productive years to the service of the country.
The latest development follows findings by a four-member delegation of Concerned Elders, comprising Alhaji Ore Salako, Engineer Ayuba Kyari, Capt. Prex Porbeni and Mr. Chris Aligbe, which visited Abuja between June 16, and 18, to establish the reason for the delay in payment.
The delegation held discussions with officials of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Federal Ministry of Finance, and was informed that the presidential approval authorising the release of the N36 billion could not initially be located.
According to the delegation’s report, the missing approval had become the major administrative obstacle to completing the payment process.
An official handling the matter at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. John Waitono, reportedly confirmed that the relevant approval document could not be found in the ministry’s files.
Technical Adviser to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Akor Abbah, also reportedly confirmed that the process remains active but cannot be concluded without the presidential approval.
During…
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