Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika has promised to ensure the payment of the N45 billion entitlements of ex-workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL).
He explained that the delay in payment was because the Senate was yet to approve it.
Sirika, while urging them to be patient, noted that the Senate promised to approve it after the Easter break.
The minister, who spoke in Abuja yesterday during the 4th Aviation Stakeholders Forum, said the payment would be done within two weeks after the Senate approves it.
Labour Unions in the aviation industry had threatened to ground flight operations to draw governmentโs attention to the plight of ex-workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL).
The union gave the Federal Government 14-day ultimatum, which began on March 19 for it to make the payment or they down tools.
Responding to their demands, the minister said: โBecause of the law and because we did everything transparently and in accordance with the law, we put out a request to the National Assembly to allow us to pay them.
โIt has passed the House of Representatives but it is remaining in the Senate. The Senate promised to pass it when they come back from Easter and once they pass it, we will pay.
โNigeria Airways, we will pay you and we thank you for your patience.โ
On their threat to ground flight operations, the minister said: โIf you shut down operations, it will affect a lot of things. In this hard time for Nigeria, I got N45 billion for you and we are just waiting for the National Assembly because the House of Representatives has done it, remaining the Senate and once they do it, within two weeks, we will pay.
โSo, you donโt need to close the airspace because it can cause serious economic damage to the country, and also cause serious security risk.
โWe are sick and tired of talks on closing of the airspace. So, please let your protest and downing of tools be in accordance with the law because it is an industry you want to develop also.โ
He added: โPress your demands some other ways. I have gone to sister agencies and MDAs, I have gone to several places just to press your demands on people, individuals, entrepreneurs and others just to make case for you.
โSo, if we are listening, we feel you should also listen because we are all working for the economy. Be patriotic please.โ
