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LAGOS – The retirees of the liquidated national carrier, Nigeria Airways have threatened to embark on protest over the failure of the Federal Government to pay their N36 billion pension arrears, which had lingered on for about six years.
The retirees under the auspices of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (Nigeria Airways Branch), in a letter dated November 19, 2024 with the reference number: NUP/NAL/MOF/11/24, signed by Comrade Olusegun Adeleke, Acting Chairman, addressed to Mr. Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, issued the government 21 days ultimatum.
The letter, which was obtained by Daily Independent, lamented that its members had been in the hopeless state since the airline was liquidated in 2003 by the Federal Government.
The union decried that most of its members lacked money to take appropriate care of themselves, while some of them also died due to lack of proper medication.
It added that all effort to ensure the government paid the remaining 50 per cent arrears had bene futile.
The letter added: “We are therefore move as executives of this union to write this warning letter to the honourable minister to heed our several letters of appeal for the payment of our severance pension. We have written several letters to the honourable minister in respect of our demand for the payment of this outstanding N36 billion severance pension payment, but are yet to hear of any concrete decision from the government.
“The year is coming to an end, and our members are dying in droves. Many of them are on sick beds waiting helplessly for the last breath on earth.
“Due to the current economic hardship, our members have asked that the honourable minister be notified of 21 days to make all needful arrangement for our several payments.”
The union warned that it would not be held liable for any embarrassment its planned nationwide protest would cause the government if the government refused to listen to it.
