Relief has started coming the way of ex-staffers of the defunct national carrier; the Nigeria Airways.
The former workers are being cleared ahead of the payment of their severance package 13 years after the airline was liquidation.
The verification exercise which started on Monday has so far been successful as the senior citizens’ hope suddenly came alive after President Muhammadu Buhari agreed to commence their payment after past governments have looked away.
According to sources at the verification exercise, the Federal Government has begun paying 50 percent entitlements of the ex-workers who have completed their verification exercise.
Chairman of the Nigeria Airways Elders Forum, Godwin Jibodu told newsmen earlier that the government was keeping its side of the deal by paying those who have completed their verification.
“We are very grateful to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for finally coming to wipe our tears away after all these years,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria.
Jibodu added that, “The government has given hope to these pensioners and now they will be able to attend to their health issues and other responsibilities.”
When New Dawn passed through the Skypower Aviation Catering premises at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, the senior citizens were calm and optimistic that they would be attended to as there were more hands on the verification process.
Also, there were medical personnel and an ambulance on ground to back-up the exercise in case of any emergency.
Verification exercise began 15th October and the affected ex-workers are optimistic that the first tranche of the money before the end of the exercise.
One of the ex-workers who identified himself simply as Oyeleke said the exercise has been going on smoothly and there has been no emergency.
“So far so good, the exercise has been smooth. We thank our dear President Buhari who has remembered us since 2004 that the airline was liquidated.
“You can remember that since 2004 that our hope was lost, we have made so many appeals, we have had three different presidents, but glory be to God, it is happening in the time of Buhari, we are grateful to God,” he said.
Another expectant worker said, she was hopeful and expectant that the money would go round.
“We are happy at last that the money owed us is being paid. We thank President Buhari who has been so concerned. Many didn’t believe he could do it but it became true that N22.6bn has been approved a part payment of our entitlement,” said an anonymous elderly woman.
The verification exercise is being conducted in Lagos, Kano and Enugu by the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) toward the release of the money approved as part payment of the entitlements of workers of the defunct airline.
