The Federal Government has paid N18 billion in outstanding benefits to 2,100 former Nigeria Airways workers, ending more than two decades of waiting for their entitlements.
Payments to another 600 beneficiaries are also being finalised, bringing the total number of former workers covered by the intervention to 2,700.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, who disclosed this to newsmen on Friday, during a press briefing in Abuja, said the payments followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to resolve the long-standing claims.
Oyedele said beneficiaries in categories one to seven had received their payments, while the government was finalising the process for those in categories eight and nine.
He described the settlement as more than the clearance of a financial obligation, saying it was an effort to restore the dignity of Nigerians who dedicated their productive years to public service and had waited for decades to receive their entitlements.
According to him, the government conducted an extensive verification exercise to identify genuine beneficiaries and ensure that public funds were paid only to eligible claimants.
He said a mop-up exercise would also be carried out to address outstanding cases, particularly those involving eligible former workers whose records were not captured during the initial process or whose documentation requires further verification.
Oyedele commended President Tinubu for directing the resolution of the claims and acknowledged the contributions of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, as well as other officials and stakeholders involved in advancing the payment process.
He said the settlement formed part of the Federal Government’s broader fiscal reform agenda, which seeks to ensure prudent management of public resources while meeting legitimate obligations to citizens.
The minister also highlighted government efforts to support small and medium-sized enterprises, stressing the need to strengthen businesses, protect livelihoods and create an environment for sustainable economic activity.