The Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, has confirmed that the Federal Government has paid N18 billion in outstanding severance benefits to 2,700 former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways.
Oyedele made this disclosure during a briefing with journalists on Friday.
He said the payment followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu.
He explained that the payment is being made in batches and that all affected ex-workers will be paid within the next few days.
According to him, the payment is being made to ex-workers who have already been verified.
“Today is about much more than the payment of money. It’s about people, dignity, trust and the responsibility of government to honour legitimate obligations to its citizens,” he said.
“Behind every verified pension arrear is a retiree and a family. Behind every unpaid contractual certificate are Nigerian businesses, employees and supply chains,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Nigeria Airways was officially liquidated in 2004. Since then, severance benefits owed to its workers had not been paid.
Nigeria Airways: FG pays N18bn severance benefits to 2,700 ex-workers