Ex-Airways pensioners plan rallies for Buhari

Ex-Nigeria Airways workers/Pensioners have declared support for the second term ambition of President Muhammadu Buhari for paying them parts of their entitlements 14 years after.

In a statement by the workers’ representatives, Engr. Lookman Animashaun and Mr. Sam Nzene, the ex-workers and pensioners said they will organize a mega rally in Lagos slated on Friday, February 8, 2019 for Buhari.

A similar rally, they said, will hold in Kano next Tuesday.

They said this was to support Buhari who 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 rallies, according to them, are designed to show appreciation to the President and his lieutenants including the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; Minister of Finance, Hajia Zainab Ahmed as well as their Permanent Secretaries and the administrative staff who took the bull by the horns.

They expressed optimism the Buhari administration will in no distant time pay the balance of their entitlements.

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The 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 received all their severance benefits by the administration.

But the late President Umaru Yar’Adua later paid 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 rights till they were paid in part last year.