FG pays N18bn severance benefits to former Nigeria Airways workers
The Federal Government has released about N18 billion in outstanding severance benefits to former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways, bringing relief to thousands of workers who have waited for more than two decades to receive their entitlements.
The payment represents another step in the government’s efforts to settle long-standing obligations to former employees of the national carrier, which ceased operations in 2003.
According to reports, the latest disbursement covers about 2,700 former Nigeria Airways workers, although another media report put the number of beneficiaries whose payments have been made at about 2,100.
Workers receive long-awaited entitlements
The former airline employees have spent years seeking payment of their outstanding severance packages following the liquidation of Nigeria Airways.
The Federal Government’s latest intervention is expected to bring an end to a prolonged period of uncertainty for beneficiaries and their families, many of whom have repeatedly called for the settlement of the outstanding obligations.
The payments form part of efforts to address liabilities inherited from the defunct airline and provide financial relief to former employees who were affected by its closure.
Nigeria Airways legacy remains significant
Nigeria Airways was once the country’s national flag carrier, connecting Nigeria with major destinations within Africa and internationally.
The airline eventually became financially unsustainable and was liquidated in 2003. Its collapse left thousands of employees without full settlement of their employment-related benefits.
Since then, successive administrations have faced pressure to resolve the outstanding obligations owed to former workers.
The latest N18 billion payment therefore represents a significant financial commitment by the Federal Government towards closing one of the long-running liabilities associated with the airline’s liquidation.
Payment offers relief amid rising living costs
For the beneficiaries, the disbursement comes at a time when Nigerian households are facing elevated living costs and pressure on purchasing power.
The release of the outstanding funds could provide financial support to former workers, particularly retirees who have waited for years to receive money owed to them.
Beyond the immediate benefit to recipients, the payment also demonstrates the economic impact that unresolved government liabilities can have when they remain outstanding for extended periods.
Government continues efforts to settle inherited liabilities
The settlement of the Nigeria Airways severance obligations forms part of the broader challenge facing the Federal Government in managing liabilities inherited from previous administrations.
Clearing such obligations can help restore confidence among former public-sector workers and other beneficiaries whose payments have been delayed for years.
For former Nigeria Airways employees, the latest disbursement represents more than a government payment; it marks progress on an issue that has remained unresolved since the airline’s liquidation more than 20 years ago.
The Federal Government’s N18 billion release is consequently expected to provide significant relief to the affected former workers while bringing the country closer to closing the financial chapter of the defunct national carrier.
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