After more than two decades of waiting, thousands of former Nigeria Airways workers are finally receiving money owed to them.
The Federal Government has paid N18 billion in severance benefits to former employees of Nigeria Airways, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has announced.
Oyedele disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing in Abuja, saying 2,100 beneficiaries from batches one to seven had already received their payments.
Another 600 former workers in batches eight and nine are currently being finalised, bringing the total number covered by the exercise to 2,700 beneficiaries.
Why the Payments Came in Batches
The minister explained that the government deliberately adopted a phased payment system to ensure that only claims supported by properly verified records were settled.
The verification process involved biometric registration, personnel checks and confirmation of banking information.
Oyedele said this approach was necessary to protect public funds while ensuring that legitimate beneficiaries were not excluded.
“Today is about much more than the payment of money, it is about people, dignity, trust, and the responsibility of government to honour legitimate obligations to its citizens.”
He said the payments followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu to address the long-standing obligation to former Nigeria Airways employees.
Government Acknowledges the Long Delay
Nigeria Airways was liquidated more than 20 years ago, leaving former workers waiting for outstanding severance benefits.
Oyedele acknowledged the length of the delay, saying the intervention formed part of the government’s broader effort to resolve legitimate inherited financial obligations.
He added that the administration was seeking to put people at the centre of public finance while maintaining strict controls around government spending.
What Happens to Missing or Outdated Records?
Not every claim can be paid immediately.
The government is still dealing with cases involving:
- Outdated personal information
- Incorrect or inactive bank details
- Deceased beneficiaries
- Incomplete documentation
- Claims requiring additional verification
For former workers who have died, Oyedele said their entitlements could be transferred to their next of kin, beneficiaries or estates, provided the required legal procedures are completed.
The government, he added, is assisting affected families with the necessary processes.
“Government cannot pay claims merely because individuals present themselves as beneficiaries without completing the verification process.”
Inflation Won’t Automatically Rewrite the Claims
Oyedele also addressed concerns about the effect of inflation on benefits that have remained unpaid for years.
He acknowledged that the purchasing power of money has fallen significantly over time but explained that any payment beyond the documented obligation would require separate consideration.
The immediate priority, he said, was to settle verified claims based on existing records.
The government must therefore balance two objectives: paying genuine beneficiaries what they are legally owed while preventing fraudulent or unsupported claims from draining public funds.
More Inherited Debts Being Tackled
The Nigeria Airways payments are part of a wider effort by the Federal Government to address outstanding obligations to other groups.
Oyedele said the government was also working to settle arrears involving pensioners and indigenous contractors.
For contractors, the government has prioritised smaller outstanding debts, initially focusing on businesses owed N50 million or less, before moving to claims of N100 million or less.
The minister said the approach was designed to spread the available resources while addressing legitimate obligations in an orderly manner.
A Long-Delayed Payment Finally Moves Forward
For the former Nigeria Airways employees who have waited for years, the latest development represents more than a government accounting exercise.
It is the release of benefits tied to years of work—money many beneficiaries and their families have spent decades waiting to receive.
With 2,100 payments already made and another 600 being finalised, the government says the process will continue as claims are properly verified and resources become available.
