Ex-Nigeria Airways workers to smile after Easter as FG assures of N45bn severance pay

The Federal Government has assured workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited of getting a N45 billion severance package after the Easter holiday.

The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed this on the sidelines of the 4th Aviation Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja, noting that the Federal Government would not want workers of the liquidated national carrier to die without getting their severance package.

According to the minister, the House of Representatives has already approved the payment of the N45 billion severance packages remaining the Senate, which, according to him will do same as soon as it resumed sitting after the Easter Holiday, following which the money will be paid to the workers by the Federal Government.

The development is coming after reports claimed that aviation unions had vowed to proceed on a nationwide strike in two weeks should the Federal Government refuse to pay the N45 billion severance packages of the former workers of the liquidated carrier.

“Every expenditure of government needs a legislative stamp, including that for Nigeria Airways pensioners. The House of Representatives has already dealt with the matter and passed it. So, once they pass it at the Senate, which is after Easter, we will go ahead and pay.

“The money has been provided and we are willing to pay, but we have to legalise it by going through the National Assembly to approve and stamp it. It is the requirement of the law and this government will always do things in accordance with the law. So, we will pay the workers,” Sirika said.

The minister further revealed during the forum’s meeting that 16 transaction advisers had been appointed for the six projects in the aviation road map in line with the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission’s guidelines and the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

He stated that the consortium, for the concession of the Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt airport terminals, comprised of five firms with vast experience and expertise in airport management, public-private project, legal advice, finance, project and construction management, environmental and social services.

The minister listed a United Kingdom-based firm, Infrata; an international law firm based in London, Dentons; and an economic company headquartered in Rotterdam, Rebel, as transaction advisers for the concession of the four airports.

Also included in the list are an engineering consultancy outfit known as WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff; and a project coordination company, Proserve.

According to the minister, five aviation leasing company Arup UK, Catamaran Nigeria Limited, RDC Aviation Economics UK, Aubert Business Consulting UK and Olawoyin & Olawoyin, were contracted as the transaction advisers on the establishment of a maintenance, repair and overhaul centre.

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He further said that three transaction advisers were contracted for the development of an aerotropolis and cargo/agro allied terminals. They are the Infrastructure Bank Plc, PWO GIBB and Abdulai Taiwo and Co.

On the establishment of a national carrier, three companies were selected. They are Airline Management Group Limited of the UK, Avia Solutions Limited and Tianerro FZE.

“The transaction advisers have all commenced work and are liaising with the project delivery team. All the transaction advisers except the one for the national carrier were engaged in May 2017 and have a nine-month contract duration.

“The deliverables by the transaction advisers include to outline business case for adopting PPP methodology, development of a well-structured PPP procurement process to select a PPP partner, prepare the full business case, as well as support the ministry to obtain FBC compliance certificate from the ICRC, FEC approval and progress transaction up to financial closure.

“The outline business case shall on completion and due approval by relevant authorities be presented to interested investors,” Sirika said.

 

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