The federal government has released an additional N4.04 billion for the payment of outstanding severance benefits to 600 former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited, bringing the total amount announced for the settlement of the airline’s former workers to about N22.04 billion.
The latest disbursement, covering Batches 010 and 011 of verified beneficiaries, is part of the government’s ongoing effort to settle long-standing financial obligations to former employees of the defunct national carrier.
The fresh release follows the N18 billion payment announced in September 2026, which covered 2,700 former workers across the initial nine batches, reports Daily Independent.
With the latest release, the number of former employees covered by the two announced payments has risen to 3,300, while the cumulative amount released stands at approximately N22.04 billion.
Details of the latest payment showed that the 600 beneficiaries were entitled to gross severance benefits of N4.251 billion. After deductions of N212.55 million, the net amount approved for payment stood at N4.038 billion.
The development offers further relief to former employees who have waited for years for the settlement of their entitlements following the collapse of the once-dominant national airline.
In a statement, Maryann Duke, Senior Special Assistant on Communications and Press Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said the additional release reflected the federal government’s continuing commitment to meeting verified obligations to eligible former workers.
She explained that payments were being processed in batches, based on the verification of beneficiaries and their records, to ensure that approved entitlements reached the rightful recipients.
The government acknowledged the prolonged wait experienced by former employees and their families, reiterating its commitment to resolving legitimate outstanding claims through an orderly and transparent process.
It also stressed that appropriate verification procedures remained necessary to safeguard public funds and ensure that payments were made only to eligible beneficiaries.
The Ministry of Finance, according to the statement, would continue to support the implementation of approved government obligations in line with established procedures and applicable payment processes.
The latest disbursement represents another step in addressing the severance liabilities arising from the closure of Nigeria Airways, which for decades served as the country’s national carrier before its operations collapsed.
For former employees and their families, the payment process has remained a long-running issue, with successive efforts to settle outstanding entitlements requiring beneficiary verification and the release of approved funds.
Although the latest payment covers only 600 additional beneficiaries, the government’s batch-by-batch approach is intended to ensure that verified claims are processed systematically.
The federal government did not provide a timeline in the statement for the settlement of any remaining eligible beneficiaries or disclose the total outstanding liability yet to be paid.
The latest release therefore advances the settlement process, while the full resolution of the former workers’ claims will depend on the verification and payment of all remaining approved entitlements.
