Former Minister of Transport, Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni (retd.), has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising the settlement of workers’ outstanding entitlements, particularly the payment of salaries and benefits owed to former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways.
Porbeni, who served as Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy in 1994, described the intervention as a demonstration of concern for the welfare of Nigerians who devoted their productive years to public service.
In a statement made available to reporters at the weekend, the former minister said the payment would provide much-needed relief to former Nigeria Airways workers, many of whom had endured prolonged financial difficulties while waiting for their outstanding benefits.
The Federal Government recently commenced the payment of N18 billion in outstanding benefits to 2,700 former Nigeria Airways workers, more than two decades after the national carrier was liquidated.
According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, 2,100 beneficiaries in batches one to seven had received their payments, while the entitlements of another 600 beneficiaries in batches eight and nine were being processed.
Porbeni recalled his involvement in the preparation and publication of a White Paper report on Nigeria Airways in 1995.
He disclosed that the investigation into the activities of the airline was led by the late Major-General David Jemibewon (retd.).
According to him, the report, which was subsequently submitted to the Provisional Ruling Council, revealed widespread abuse of Nigeria Airways’ facilities by federal ministries and parastatals.
“Government ministries and agencies utilised the national carrier’s services without proper accounting or reimbursement, a practice that significantly contributed to the eventual collapse of the airline,” Porbeni said.
Nigeria Airways was liquidated in 2003, leaving thousands of former workers pursuing their outstanding entitlements for years.
The latest payment follows repeated appeals and assurances by successive administrations to settle the liabilities owed to the former workers.
Porbeni described the Federal Government’s intervention as an indication of concern for the welfare of retired and serving public servants and urged the administration to sustain the effort across other sectors.
He said the long-awaited payment would bring relief to former Nigeria Airways workers and their families after years of financial hardship.
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