NigerianFLIGHTDECK Travel and Business Reportage 
- Decry withholding of released N45billion severance
EX-WORKERS of the now defunct Nigeria Airways have decried their inability to access the initial N45 billion released by the government as part of the over N78 billion severance benefits that was approved by the federal government after a peaceful protest by the workers last month.
The workers who decried the demise of seven of their workers since the release of the N45 billion by government were apprehensive as it is not clear to them the agency withholding the funds.
The ex NAL Elders Forum, who converge every Wednesday at NUATE Secretariat, Murtala Muhammed Airport(MMA), Lagos could not deliberate on issues as they usually do as it concerns their welfare but rather it was time to mourn their departed colleagues.
Speaking to journalists during the Elder Forum of NAL workers, the Chairman of the Forum, Engr. Godwin Jibodu stated that between October 11 and 18, 2017, the ex-workers have lost seven persons described as part of the first 11 of the moribund airline.
He gave the names of the ex-workers who died recently to include: Capt. Asuquo, Capt. Akintaju, Capt. Ohioma, Capt. Akinyosade and Engr. KC Amah, Mr Onyebuchi Anunobi.
He stated that the men are dying in droves because they do not have money to take care of themselves, adding that would have been able to seek medical attention if they were paid their gratuity and pension that is presently been withheld by unknown agency of government after N45 billion was released by Federal Government.
The Chairman also gave the names of those suffering from stroke as: Engr. Bose Oladamiye, Mrs Adedayo Awoyinka, Engr. I. Belgam and Engr. Ebenezer Akinbode
“This sad and disheartening,” Jibodu said.
Jibodu further stated that the ex-NAL workers had tried to reach out to the Ministry of Aviation, Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), adding that their efforts did not yield any fruitful result.
According to him, “We have tried to reach out to the Federal Ministry of Aviation, finance and Central Bank of Nigeria but there is no response from them. And as we speak to you no response as to who is holding our money.”
Lamenting further, Jibodu stated that Capt. Akintoju, the first Nigerian that flew the VC10 aircraft from London to Lagos died three days ago, describing the deaths recorded so far as regrettable.
He also disclosed that Capt. Charles Ntanyi one the pilots in the “first 11 of the former NAL workers, who took a commercial bus because he could not afford a car disappeared about two months ago , adding that up till this moment his whereabout is still unknown
The Chairman of the Ex –NAL Elders Forum, also revealed that the first avioninc engineer, Bose Oladunmiye is at the point of death, calling on the Federal Government to act fast to ensure that the N45 billion already released is paid to them to avoid further deaths.
He called on the Federal Government and the entire Nigeria not to forget the contributions of the former workers, adding that ex-NAL workers are still contributing to the development of the aviation industry.
According to him, “There is no airline in the country today where you don’t find ex-Nigeria Airways Limited workers.”
According to jibodu, “As we are mourning our colleagues who died, we are equally asking; who is holding our money that has been released by the Federal Government.”
