…total beneficiaries rise to 3,300 as Finance Ministry continues verification of next-of-kin claims
By Gloria Ikibah 
The Federal Government has paid N4.25 billion in outstanding pension and severance benefits to another 600 former workers of Nigeria Airways Limited, bringing the total number of beneficiaries paid to 3,300.
In a statement by Head of Media at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Efe Ovuakporie, she said the latest disbursement, covering Batches 010 and 011, amounts to N4,251,043,000.19 in gross benefits.
According to the ministry, the payment aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by addressing longstanding obligations and providing financial relief to affected families.
The payment extends the settlement of outstanding entitlements owed to eligible beneficiaries of the defunct national carrier.
The ministry said the first nine batches covered 2,700 beneficiaries, while the latest payment brought the cumulative number of former workers who had received their entitlements to 3,300.
It noted that the disbursement would provide financial relief to beneficiaries who had waited for years for the settlement of pension and severance benefits arising from their service with the former national airline.
The ministry described the payment as progress in addressing longstanding obligations to eligible beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the verification and validation exercise for the next of kin of deceased former Nigeria Airways workers is ongoing.
The exercise is intended to establish eligibility and confirm claims against approved records before outstanding benefits are settled.
The ministry said it would continue to process verified claims in line with applicable procedures to ensure that payments reached eligible beneficiaries.
It added that the settlement reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to resolving verified legacy claims and ensuring that affected workers and their families received their entitlements.
