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Seven of the former workers of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL), have died in the last one week while awaiting the payment from the N45billion recently released by the Federal government of the payment of their pension and gratuity.
It would be recalled that the staff of national carrier which was liquidated in 2004 staged a peaceful protest over the delay in the payment of their over N78 billion severance benefits that was approved by the federal government.
The protest led to the immediate release of N45 billion by the Federal Government.
However, as at the time of compiling this report, is not clear to the former workers of the liquidated NAL which government agency is withholding the N45 billion.
The ex NAL Elders Forum, who converge every Wednesday at national Secretariat of Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Murtala Muhammed Airport(MMA),Lagos could not have their usual deliberations which focused on their welfare but rather it was time to mourn their departed colleagues.
Speaking to journalists during the Elder Forum of NAL workers, the Chairman of the Forum, Engr. Godwin Jibodu stated that between last; Wednesday October 11 and 18, 2017, the forum have lost seven persons described as part of the first 11 of the moribund airline.
The forum leader gave the names of the names of his colleague who died recently to include: Capt. Asuquo, Capt. Akintaju, Capt. Ohioma, Capt. Akinyosade and Engr. KC Amah, Mr Onyebuchi Anunobi,
He stated that these great men are dying in droves because they do not have money to take care of themselves, adding that they would have been able to seek medical attention if they have been paid their gratuity and pension that is at present been withheld by unknown agency of government after N45 billion was released by Federal Government.
Jibodu who also gave the names of those suffering from stroke as: Engr. Bose Oladamiye, Mrs Adedayo Awoyinka, Engr. I. Belgam and Engr. Ebenezer Akinbode lamented, “This is sad and disheartening.”
He further stated that the ex-NAL workers had tried to reach out to the Ministry of Aviation, Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), adding that their efforts did not yield any fruitful result.
According to him, “We have tried to reach out to the Federal Ministry of Aviation, finance and Central Bank of Nigeria but there is no response from them. And as we speak to you no response as to who is holding our money.”
Lamenting further, Jibodu stated that Capt. Akintoju , the first Nigerian that flew the VC10 aircraft from London to Lagos died three days ago , describing the deaths recorded so far as regrettable.
He also disclosed that Capt. Charles Ntanyi one the pilots in the “first 11 of the former NAL workers, who took a commercial bus because he could not afford a car disappeared about two months ago , adding that up till this moment his whereabouts is still unknown
The Chairman of the Ex –NAL Elders Forum , also revealed that the first avionic engineer, Bose Oladunmiye is at the point of death , calling on the Federal Government to act fast to ensure that the N45 billion already released is paid to them to avoid further deaths.
He called on the Federal Government and the entire Nigeria not to forget the contributions of the former workers, adding that ex-NAL workers are still contributing to the development of the aviation industry.
According to him, “There is no airline in the country today where you don’t find ex-Nigeria Airways Limited workers.”
According to jibodu, “As we mourning our colleagues who died, we are equally asking; who is holding our money that has been realesed by the Federal Government.”
