Confusion deepens over ex-Airways workers’ N45bn pension

Controversy over the N45 billion pension benefits of former workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL) got deeper during the week following a statement from Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, that there has not been presidential approval for the money.

Adeosun had in a series of tweets on her verified Twitter account, @HMKemiAdeosun, following her engagement with the ad hoc committee of the Senate on “Promissory Note Programme and Bond Issuance”, said there has been a misconception over the terminal benefits of the exworkers of the defunct national carrier.

The minister explained that the N45bn pay approved for the former workers was part of the promissory note programme (PNP) to clear all inherited federal debts including payment for contractors.

Adeosun said: “There has been a misconception in the media that the president had approved the payment of N45 billion terminal benefits to the ex-workers of Nigeria Airways. I should make it clear that there is no presidential approval and no appropriation yet for the payment.

“The terminal benefits of exNigeria Airways workers are also part of the outstanding inherited debts. These benefits have been reconciled and agreed at N45 billion following verification but we don’t have presidential approval yet for the payment. It also has to be appropriated.”

But the former workers dismissed the minister’s claim, saying the approval was given as far back as 2017.

The chairman, Aviation Union Ground Alliance (AUGA), Engr. Lukman Animashaun, said the promissory notes also included those of military pensioners, salary arrears of federal civil servants and contractors, adding that, “The NAL pensioners were number three on the FEC approval. We are also aware that the minister of Finance has started paying the military pensioners and federal civil servants, leaving out the NAL pensioners.”

He said it was the minister that personally conveyed the approval to the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

“Whatever I have said on this matter are facts because I’m involved. If the minister of Finance is saying there’s no approval, why did she convey approval to her colleague, personally signed by her?

“We should not be playing politics with people’s lives. To us, there was an approval,” Animashaun said.