The Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) has commended the Federal Government for intervening in the delayed payment of retirement benefits to former Nigeria Airways workers.
The association also praised President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, for responding to the workers’ plight.
Air Commodore (rtd.) Ademola Onitiju, ASRTI President, made the commendation in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos.
Onitiju noted that former Nigeria Airways workers had endured more than two decades of hardship following the liquidation of the national carrier in April 2003.
He urged the Federal Government to complete the payment process and settle all outstanding entitlements owed to living and deceased former workers.
He said families of deceased beneficiaries should also receive the entitlements due to them, describing the measure as necessary for fairness and equal treatment.
According to him, Nigeria Airways was once a symbol of Nigeria’s sovereignty and employed dedicated professionals who served the nation.
“While its employees were dedicated professionals who served the nation with the expectation that government would cater for them in retirement,” he said.
Similarly, Mr John Ogbe, National President of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), applauded Tinubu for addressing the longstanding issue.
Ogbe said the payments were being made in batches and expressed confidence that the process would be completed shortly.
He also commended Keyamo, saying former workers had suffered untold hardship while waiting for their final settlement.
According to him, some beneficiaries have started receiving their outstanding severance benefits as payments continue to be made in batches.
“The outstanding payments, severance package payments, have been a long-standing issue.
“We thank God that when the President came on board, he gave provisional approval last year, and today, the money has started rolling in,” he said.
Ogbe said the development showed that “justice delayed cannot be denied”, adding that former Nigeria Airways workers were happy their entitlements had begun arriving.
“We want to commend Keyamo, who served as a catalyst in speeding up this payment process,” he said.
He also commended the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant-General of the Federation for their roles in facilitating the payments.
