NIGERIA AIRWAYS: Buhari approves part payment of ex-workers’ entitlements after 15yrs

Fifteen years after the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited stopped operations in the country, the Federal Government has approved the sum of N22.68 billion for the payment of retirement benefits to ex-workers of the liquidated national carrier.

The approved amount, which represents 50 percent of the N45.3 billion entitlements the Nigerian government is owing the former workers of the airline, was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this in Abuja while addressing journalists at a press briefing held at the headquarters of the ministry of finance.

“15 years after, I’m happy to announce today, that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate release of N22.68 billion, being 50% of N45.3 billion total entitlements of the Ex-workers of Nigeria Airways Limited in Liquidation,” the minister said.

According to her, the sum of N20 billion was also approved for the education sector.

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Ahmed said the approval was in response to the agreement the Federal Government signed with the Academic Staff Union on Universities (ASUU) regarding funding measures for the revitalization of public universities.

Recall that ASUU had signed a MOU with the Federal Government in 2013 on the terms and conditions on which the government would improve funding for staff welfare and provision of critical infrastructure.

According to Ahmed, the implementation of this bilateral agreement has had certain challenges due to revenue shortages and other reasons.

“President Muhammadu Buhari in his determination to revitalize Public Universities and ensure smooth running of the tertiary education system, has approved the sum of N20 billion for immediate release for Public Universities through the revitalization scheme.

“These funds will be released to beneficiary universities in line with the established criteria used by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Progress of the implementation will be monitored with a view to resolving emerging issues and keeping the government’s promises to relevant stakeholders,” Ahmed said.

By Oluwasegun Olakoyenikan….

 

 

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