Presidential Elections: Ex-Airways pensioners pitch tent with PMB after part payment of benefits

 

 

EX-NIGERIA Airways workers/Pensioners, have expressed their intention to rally for President Muhammadu Buhari in the coming election as part of their quota to get him re-elected after he had the humanity to pay them part of their entitlements 14 years on.

In a statement by the workers’ representatives, Engr. Lookman Animashaun and Mr. Sam Nzene, the Ex-workers and Pensioners said they will roll out the drums at mega rally in Lagos slated for Friday, February 8, 2019 to declare their support for PMB in the presidential election, which is eight days away . A similar rally will be held in Kano next week Tuesday

According to the statement, President Buhari is the man who has wiped away their tears after 14 years of neglect, humiliation and frustration by previous administration, which led to the death of over 800 of their members.

They lashed out at past regimes, whose stock in trade was promises that were never kept, pointing out that President Buhari is a man who keeps to his words.

The statement explained that the rally is designed to show appreciation to Mr. President and his lieutenants including the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Finance, Hajia Zainab Ahmed as well as their Permanent Secretaries and the administrative staff who took the bull by the horns.
They assured their members that the Buhari administration will in no distant time pay the balance of their entitlements.

Recall, Federal Government in September 2018 approved for release and in October initiated verification and payment of 50% of N45.4billion for ex-Nigeria Airways workers, a feat which brought joy to the aging and aged pensioners.

After the liquidation of Nigeria Airways by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 foreign staff of the airline were paid off all their severance benefits by the administration then but it took another former President, the late Umaru Yaradua to pay some of the agitating workers.

When he died, all efforts to continue in his footsteps met stumbling blocks and for fourteen years the former workers kept agitating for their right till they were paid in part just last year.