Retired workers of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) have appealed to the Federal Government to prioritize their payments in the upcoming disbursement of President Bola Tinubu’s N758bn pension bond.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Friday, the General Secretary of the ex-NAHCO workers, Sanmi Alademomi, stated that the pensioners were privatized without receiving their rightful entitlements, despite being part of the Defined Benefits Scheme.
The retirees, totaling 936, have raised concerns over the delayed payment of their severance package, which has been pending since NAHCO’s privatization 20 years ago. They have been engaged in a long-standing dispute with NAHCO and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate over unpaid severance pay, a matter that has lingered for over four years.
After two decades of disengagement, the ex-workers took legal action over the non-payment of their terminal and severance benefits. They urged the Federal Government to address the bureaucratic delays that have hindered their settlement and led to the deaths of some elderly pensioners who did not receive their entitlements in time.
The ex-workers appealed to the president to pay attention to their case, emphasizing that theirs is a one-time settlement and expressing gratitude for the government’s consideration. They also thanked the management of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, led by Ayodeji Gbeleyi, for its continued efforts in ensuring their case is addressed, as well as the cooperation between NAHCO and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate’s legal team in their ongoing struggle.
