FEDERAL Government says it has dealt with the issue of pensioners of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited and is pleading with the workers to be patient as their dues will no doubt get to them soon.
Making this passionate plea, Minister of State Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said already that government had provided the funding and all the pensioners need do is be patient reminding them that subsequent government have seen their plight and have done nothing to ameliorate it.
Recall earlier I the week, the pensioners took to the streets of the Murtala Muhammed Airport to express their dismay at their treatment having had to wait months after government approved N45billion of their N78billion benefit.
The minister who spoke on the touching issue said ,”We’ve dealt with the issue of pensioners. The money is being provided by government, the Ministry of Finance is handling it and the National Assembly is also playing its roles. ”
“I want to plead with those Nigeria Airways ex-staff that since this thing happened to them, nobody cared, nobody did anything for decade and we came in and felt that this is unfair for people who have put in their entire life to serve this country. So we felt that we should compassionately deal with the matter which we did and we provided the funding of N45bn. They should exercise patience while it happens while everybody will get his entitlement very soon.”
This language of soon has no meaning anymore since March last year the Minister of Aviation been saying soon Soon how soon is this soon is the issue.
Oga Minister, these people do hear ‘soon’ plenti. Many don die, many no see money go hospital, chop tuwo, buy cloth, pay school fees and una dey tell them ‘soon’.