By David Oluwatosin
The Federal Government has approved an additional ₦4.04 billion for the payment of outstanding severance benefits to 600 former employees of the liquidated Nigeria Airways Limited.
The latest disbursement, covering batches 010 and 011, is part of the government’s ongoing effort to settle outstanding entitlements owed to former workers of the defunct national carrier.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Maryann Duke, Senior Special Assistant on Communications and Press Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the new payment follows an earlier disbursement of ₦18 billion in September.
The September payment reportedly settled the entitlements of 2,700 former employees covered by the first nine batches.
The financial breakdown of the latest release shows that the total gross severance package stands at ₦4,251,043,000.19.
After statutory deductions of ₦212,552,150.01, the net amount available for payment to the beneficiaries is ₦4,038,490,850.18.
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The government said the payment process is being implemented in batches, with each group of beneficiaries subjected to verification of records to establish their eligibility and confirm their approved entitlements.
The Minister of Finance said the batch-by-batch approach was designed to ensure that payments reach the rightful beneficiaries while protecting public funds from irregular claims.
The government maintained that the verification process is central to the orderly settlement of outstanding liabilities arising from the liquidation of Nigeria Airways.
The latest approval brings further relief to former employees who have waited for decades for the settlement of their severance benefits following the airline’s liquidation.
Acknowledging the prolonged wait experienced by former workers and their families, the Federal Government reiterated its commitment to resolving all legitimate outstanding claims through a transparent and orderly framework.
The Minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to meeting its financial obligations in line with established procedures.
The latest disbursement represents another phase in the government’s efforts to settle the outstanding entitlements of former Nigeria Airways employees, with payments continuing through the batch-based verification process.
Nigeria Airways, once the country’s national carrier, was liquidated after years of financial and operational difficulties, leaving outstanding obligations to former employees among the issues requiring resolution.
