BUHARI APPROVES N43BILLION FOR NIGERIAN AIRWAYS RETIREES, UNIVERSITY LECTURERS

Penpushing reports that the Minister lamented that following the long delay in the payment of the retirement benefits after the liquidation of Nigeria Airways Limited, many of the ex-workers went through untold hardship.

Her words “This unfortunate situation cannot be allowed to continue under a responsible administration,”, adding that in order to ensure the Presidential directive on the payment of the entitlement was duly implemented, a committee has been constituted headed by the Secretary of PICA, MK Dikwa, to handle the exercise.

Penpushing reports that, other members of the committee include representatives of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation; Office of the Accountant General of the Federation; Ministry of Aviation; Federal Ministry of Finance; Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE); Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD); Budget Office of the Federation and Union of Ex-Workers of Nigeria Airways Limited (in liquidation).

Penpushing gathered that, the committee is expected to physically verify the claims of pensioners and relevant next-of-kins before the release of funds to the approved beneficiaries, while other modalities will be worked out by the committee, to ensure speedy payment, transparency and integrity of the process, it was learnt.

The Minister speaking on the N20 billion approved for the revitalisation of public universities, recalled the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Federal Government and ASUU in 2013 on the need to improve funding for staff welfare and provision of critical infrastructure.

She said the President was determined to revitalise public universities and ensure their smooth running, emphasizing that approval of N20 billion for immediate release for public universities through the revitalisation scheme was part of that determination.

The Minister assured that the funds would be released to beneficiary universities in line with the established criteria used by the National Universities Commission (NUC),adding that progress in the implementation of the Presidential directive, would be monitored with a view to resolving emerging issues and keeping the government’s promises to relevant interest groups