There are strong indications that the Federal government is ready for the full payment of the severance benefits of the former staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited.
To this end, a five-man team from the Ministry of Transportation has arrived the Lagos airport to put finishing touches to the process of payment which may happen soon.
The amount is put at about N72 billion.
The team were sited at the Skypower Catering premises, former subsidiary of the airline at the airport going through piles of file.
The team we learnt are on Duty To Advice (DTA) assignment, ,the essence is to advice the government on what to do with the case of the former workers after verifying their files.
Investigation revealed that the five-man team is to round up its activities in Lagos by Friday this week and submit its report to the Federal Government through the ministry of transportation for immediate action.
Commenting on the development, Secretary General, Nigerian Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Olayinka Abioye confirmed the planned payment of the benefits to the workers, noted that the unions have over the years pushed for the final payment of the workers,.
He assured that the money would be released to them soon, but could not confirm the actual time.
“Yes, we have been pushing for the money to be released to the workers and we understand that the government may eventually pay them very soon, but, how soon is what i don’t know.
“However, i can also confirm to you that a presidential committee was set up by the government for verification purpose. As at the last time, the total severance packages to the workers was N72 billion”.
It would be recalled that the Late President Umaru Yar’Adua had paid the workers about five years severance package in 2008 out of the 25 years reached between the workers and the government with a promise to pay the rest in due course, but he died in office before he could redeem his pledge.
Organizer of the weekly prayer meetings of the workers, Mr. Sheri Kyari said no fewer than 30 per cent of the workers had died in the past 13 years, following their inability to access funds for medical bills and good up keep among others.
Last year at a function in Lagos, Minister of State, Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika had in chat with newsmen that his major concern was sourcing for funds to settle the former workers of the airline.
No fewer than 2000 staff of the airline are to be paid by the government.
