Outstanding entitlements: FG takes verification of ex-NAL workers to UK

Determined to fully resolve the lingering crisis over outstanding
entitlements for ex-workers of defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL), the Federal Government is taking their verification to the United Kingdom (UK) to address the Diaspora payment component. According to the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), the two weeks exercise, which flags off on Monday, June 24, 2019 at the Nigerian High Commission Complex in London, UK, is being handled by an Inter-Ministerial Team Coordinated by PICA, under the Federal Ministry of Finance, the team comprises the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Auditor General for the Federation Office (OAUGF); Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF); and Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF), including other relevant agencies and stakeholders.
A statement by the Acting Director of PICA, Mr John Waitono, who is representing the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Dr Mohammad Kyari Dikwa, as the team leader, said the Federal Government approved the exercise for those in Diaspora given the role played by London as the European Operational Office of the defunct NAL.
He explained that the exercise aims at alleviating the suffering and hardship being experienced the ex-staff and their family members waiting for their entitlements and other benefits over a decade now.
The statement also said the exercise seeks to cushion the financial burden and save beneficiaries the stress of traveling to Nigeria, including other logistics required for them to be in the country fortheir exercise.
So far, the verification process has been conducted in three locations within the country to take care of over 6,000 ex-workers of the defunct National Carrier. The centres are Kano, Lagos and Enugu.
The development follows President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of about N22.6 billion to settle the outstanding entitlements.
Already, the Federal Government has paid an initial 50 per cent of the entitlements to the ex-workers whose documents were fully verified and authenticated in October 2018.
In his remarks while approving the payment, the President had
apologised to the Airways’ pensioners for their over a decade neglect by previous administrations.
He also ordered that the verification and payment for the ex-staff in Diaspora be carried out in London to save travelling cost and avoid putting stress on the beneficiaries and their families currently residing outside Nigeria.