A union in the aviation sector, Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council, JCNC, has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the outstanding payment of defunct Nigeria Airways workers.
Chairman of JCNC, Mr Hector Nnadi, expressed sadness over the inability of some ex-Nigeria Airways staff to get their full entitlement 30 years after the national carrier was liquidated.
In 2004, former President Olusegun Obasanjo liquidated Nigeria Airways following huge indebtedness.
In 2018, the Federal Government approved the sum of N22.68 billion for the payment of retirement benefits to workers of the liquidated national airline.
The amount approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari was about 50 per cent of the N45.3 billion total entitlement.
In 2023, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, said the federal government was making arrangements to offset the last tranche of the monies owed.
Speaking at the 11th edition of the Aviation Workers’ Week and Award Night, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Nnadi said it had not been paid.
He said: “I would like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of our aviation workers, who strive day and night to ensure the safety, security, and efficiency of our aviation industry. Among these great veterans are the workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways, who gave their patriotic service to this nation but are still struggling to get their full entitlement after 30 years of liquidation.
“We are sending an SOS to Mr President for his further intervention to conclude this over years challenge and become an aviation workers hero. The above is without prejudice to several efforts of theMinister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo.”
Meanwhile, Keyamo also reaffirmed his commitment to unionism and the welfare of aviation workers at the event.
The Minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Ibrahim Kana, mni, said unionism should not be antagonistic to progress but a protagonist for it.
On his part, President of the Aviation Round, Air Commodore Ademola Ojuku, Table, in his good will message, commended the JCNC committee for its consistent effort in uniting aviation professionals annually to drive the industry’s progress.
