Almost two decades after the controversial liquidation of the national carrier, the Nigeria Airways, the federal government is yet to conclude the payments of the former workers, entitlements.
This contradiction has become manifested as the foreign former workers of the dead airline in countries like, UK, America, Rome were almost immediately after the liquidation fully paid off in line with the labour laws of such countries.
However, reverse has been the case as many of the former airline workers in Nigeria and the West Coast have been frustrated to death without receiving their final entitlements while those alive are yet to be fully paid.
The affected former workers and the pensioners have again appealed to President Bola Tinubu to save them from untimely.
According to the leader of the former workers, Elder David Uanserume, the Airline might have been Liquidated, the spirits of the ex workers dead or alive, continues to haunt as long as the ex workers and the senior pensioners were not settled
In their argument through Uanserume, the workers said Nigeria Airways, a company established by the Act of Parliament, has not had the Act revoked or repealed while the Federal Government was yet to conclude the payments to the ex workers and pensioners satisfactorily in the country.
“Nigeria Airways from 1948 till 2004. The labour of these Pioneers and ours shall never be in vain. Government is a continuum. If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do”?
Uanserume recalled how large number of private airlines emerged in the past, were sponsored by prominent Nigerians in government with the intent of killing Nigeria Airways without success.
His words: “The elephant kept flying, converted to eagle and flew until the powers-that-be then selfishly decided to snuff life out of her, the “Spirit of Courage” the “Africa’s Best Airline” as she was known, then died.”
The workers have appealed to President Tinubu, to beam searchlight on the current plight of the still surviving ex workers and pensioners of Nigeria Airways” and pay them their total legally allowed Labour rights, entitlements without further delays.
“Haven’t we suffered and endured enough and beyond major? The Almighty has been with us. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Jonathan delayed our payments. While God mercifully used Presidents Umaru Yar adua and Muhammadu Buhari to give us lifeline. Now we humbly pray that President Tinubu will finalise, actualise and pay all our total outstanding severance package long expected pensions. Please Save Our Souls! (SOS) Our membership cuts across the 774 LGAs in Nigeria.”
According to the former airline workers, a large number of them have died untimely, while many have been knocked down by all manner of diseases at the moment. “Some are in the hospitals and most of us can no longer cater to our families due to the current economic realities, same markets. I write this in pains, because of partial paralysis since January, 2010, i have been indoors. Most of us are over 60 years, age is not on our side any more. Ordinary paracetamol sells for over N200 per a sachet across the Land”.
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