By: Idris Alooma
The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Comrade Issa Aremu, mni, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for commencing the payment of outstanding retirement benefits to former workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited.
In a press statement issued in Ilorin at the weekend, Comrade Aremu described the payment as historic, noting that it further singles out President Tinubu as the most outstanding labour-friendly President since Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999.
According to him, "The recent commencement of the payment of N18 billion out of an agreed retirement benefit package of N45 billion owed to former workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited further singles out President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as an outstanding labour-friendly President since 1999."
It will be recalled that Nigeria Airways, which was heavily indebted, stopped operations in 2003 following years of financial mismanagement and was liquidated in 2004, leaving thousands of workers without immediate severance or pensions.
Comrade Aremu said the commencement of payment by President Tinubu conclusively puts closure to the compensation crisis that trailed the privatisation exercise.
"For over two decades, the poor workers, many of whom have grown old and some of whom have sadly passed on, carried the weight of a debt owed to them by the State. That this obligation has now been substantially discharged, with 2,100 beneficiaries already paid and the remaining 600 in the final stages of processing, is a profound demonstration that the government can and should be held accountable to the workers who serve it," he said.
He described the gesture as a worthy expression of the efficacy of the Renewed Hope Labour Market Agenda, which places the dignity, welfare, and rights of Nigerian workers at the centre of governance.
Aremu noted that the payment is imperative for strengthening social protection, promoting decent work, safeguarding workers' rights, and restoring confidence in the social contract between government, employers, and workers.
He also commended the rigour applied in the exercise, including biometric capture and verification of beneficiary records, which he said reflects commitment to due process, transparency, and protection of genuine claimants.
The MINILS DG added that the payment should encourage continued collaboration among government, organised labour, employers, and other social partners in addressing outstanding labour-related issues through social dialogue and respect for workers' rights.
He stated that labour issues will shape the 2027 presidential and gubernatorial polls, adding that candidates will be judged not by promissory notes but by their legacy and current records with respect to the provision of decent jobs, prompt payment of salaries, adherence to minimum wage and other labour laws, pensions, severance pay, and collective agreements.
Aremu reaffirmed the Institute's commitment to supporting the Federal Government's labour reform agenda through research, training, and policy advocacy that advanced the welfare of Nigerian workers.(The Proxima News)
