Ex-workers, NAHCO disagree over N1.1bn benefits

The management of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc and their ex-workers have disagreed over N1.1 billion severance benefits.

About 750 former staff have instituted a court action alleging a short-change over the severance benefits after the termination of their appointment 15 years ago when the company was privatized.

But NAHCO said it cleared the payment earlier. However, the ex-workers who had engaged a lawyer, claimed the money NAHCO was said to have paid at the time of their disengagement does not amount to the terminal benefits they are entitled to.

They also alleged some underpayment from Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) after serving NAHCO for 15 years.

General-Secretary of the workers’ forum, Sanmi Alademoni, confirmed that NAHCO actually paid them some money at the time of the privatization but the information they got was that the said amount was ‘Golden Handshake’.

“It is not the terminal benefit or severance package that they are talking about,” he said.

But NAHCO management yesterday said workers including those disengaged and those remaining with the company had been paid their entitlement.

When contacted, the Head, Corporate Communication, Samuel Akinrinmade, said the payment was made between April and May 2008 when the ground handling firm was privatized.

He explained that the gratuity of N1.1bn was paid to 936 people and it started seeking a refund from the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) with several letters to the bureau in line with the decision of the board.

Daily Trust learnt that in 2015, BPE transferred the issue of refund being sought by NAHCO to PTAD to carry out the required verification.

“NAHCO was actually being proactive. The management felt there was a need to pay the money at the time because of the tense situation while the board decided to seek a refund from the BPE,” Akinrinmade said.