ATSSSAN Aspirant Pledges Final Push for Defunct Nigeria Airways Workers’ Pay

In a decisive commitment to address long-standing labor issues, John Ogala, a presidential candidate in the upcoming Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) election, has pledged to prioritize the settlement of severance benefits for former Nigeria Airways workers, unresolved since the carrier’s liquidation 22 years ago.

Ogala made this declaration during a press engagement with journalists at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Thursday. He emphasized that securing the outstanding payments would be a primary focus if elected in the December poll.

The defunct national carrier ceased operations in 2003 and was formally liquidated in 2004 by the Federal Government. While the first segment of severance benefits was disbursed in December 2018 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the remaining N22 billion, covering 50% of the entitlements, remains unpaid despite reported approvals.

Ogala characterized the situation as a prolonged injustice requiring immediate resolution. “It is lamentable that, to this day, the severance benefits of our comrades in the defunct Nigeria Airways remain unresolved,” he stated. “Many have died during this struggle for their rightful benefits, leaving families in distress and children without educational opportunities.”

He acknowledged recent efforts by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to advance the matter, while clarifying that final payment processing falls under the statutory mandate of other government ministries.

Concluding his address, Ogala reframed his campaign, stating, “This is not a campaign of promises; it is a movement of purpose. Together, we shall transform ATSSSAN into not just a union, but a unified community bound by solidarity and shared destiny.”