Barbara Bako, Abuja.
The Federal Government has paid N18 billion in severance benefits to 2,700 former Nigeria Airways workers, bringing an end to a wait that lasted more than two decades after the liquidation of the national carrier.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the payment on Friday in Abuja, describing it as the fulfilment of a long-standing obligation approved by President Bola Tinubu.
“Today is about much more than the payment of money. It is about people, dignity, trust and the responsibility of government to honour legitimate obligations to its citizens,” Oyedele said.
He disclosed that 2,100 beneficiaries in batches one to seven have already received their payments, while another 600 beneficiaries in batches eight and nine are being processed.
According to the minister, the payment followed a comprehensive verification exercise involving biometric capture and validation of personnel and banking records to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries received the funds.
Oyedele said some payments were delayed because of incomplete records, incorrect bank details and cases involving deceased beneficiaries whose next of kin must complete legal documentation before accessing the benefits.
He assured affected families that the government would continue to resolve outstanding cases in a fair and transparent manner while protecting public funds from fraudulent claims.
The minister added that the Federal Government is also settling other inherited obligations, including outstanding payments to pensioners and indigenous contractors, as part of its broader fiscal reform agenda.
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