The Nigerian Airways Limited, NAL, once a symbol of national pride and a major player in the global aviation industry, has now faded into a distant memory. Its former glory, however, continues to cast a long shadow over the lives of those who dedicated their careers to the airline.
Captain Jonathan Ibrahim, a former Managing Director of the airline, speaking at the unveiling of the Wings Support Family Foundation, WSFF and launching of the book: Nigeria Aviation and Aerospace Development: ‘All You Need to Know’, authored by SFE, Mr. Francis Adegoke, vividly recalls the airline’s downfall and the subsequent struggles faced by its employees.
“It’s unfortunate,” he sighs, “They left us for 10 years before Buhari’s regime gave us N45 billion, remaining about N37 billion. He approved it, but the Ministry of Finance and PITAD, they call themselves, who report to the presidency, cut the N78 billion and gave us N45 billion.”
The ex-staff are still grappling with the delayed payment of their severance benefits, capt. Ibrahim explains, “The problem we have now is the remaining payment, the N35 billion left”.
According to him, despite numerous appeals to government officials, including the President and the Minister of Finance, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
The airline’s demise was marked by the sale of its valuable assets, including properties in prime locations both domestically and internationally.
“They sold everything, including the Country Club, all belonging to NAL. The ones all over the world, our property can start two new airlines, if not three new airlines. But they sold it to themselves”, says Capt. Ibrahim
The ex-staff are now appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that they receive their rightful dues.
He pleads, “We are appealing to Tinubu to please look at these innocent workers who work for this country. We flew presidents, ECOMOG, military, Hajj operations, as directed by government, being a social service, so please, let them pay us.”
Another aggrieved ex-staff, Chief Anselm Mohammed expressed frustration over the government’s apparent disregard for their plight.
He lamented, “The system has no respect for us. We have nowhere else to turn to for livelihood in our own country.”
Chief Mohammed questioned the government’s priorities, stating, “The National Assembly squanders billions daily, yet these hardworking individuals are left to suffer.”
He urged the government to prioritize the welfare of these former employees, suggesting that they be re-engaged as pensioners to ensure a steady income stream. “We have served our nation diligently,” he said, “and we deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.”
Despite their persistent efforts to recover their rightful dues, the ex-staff have encountered significant obstacles from a seemingly indifferent bureaucracy.
He urged his colleagues to remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, even as time continues to erode their hopes.
“It is disheartening that 36 or 26 years after our service, we are still waiting for our hard-earned money. If the funds are available, they should be released without further delay.”
Commenting on the Nigerian aviation industry, once a thriving sector now struggling to regain its former glory, Capt. Ibrahim believes that the industry’s current challenges can be attributed to a lack of professionalism and a reliance on nepotism and political patronage.
“They are not ready to employ the professionals. They want to go it alone, with their family, with their political heads and that will not work.”
He urges the government to seek the expertise of former aviation professionals to guide the industry’s future. “I’ve given them a blueprint, But we have a long way to go in Africa, not even Nigeria”.
