The Federal Government has so far paid N372 billion to all the former staff disengaged from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
This was contained in statement signed in Abuja by Timothy Oyedeji, the Deputy Director of Press of the Federal Ministry of Power.
It debunked the assertion that government had remained insensitive to the plight of the disengaged PHCN workers.
The statement said the exercise had nothing to do with the February general elections.
It said that 45,000 persons had been paid, with another 1,669 and 1,037 awaiting verification.
It would be recalled that government recently raised a validation list for the payment of Pension Fund Administration and severance entitlements for 1,669 workers of the defunct PHCN.
The statement also stated that the Implementation Committee on Payment of the defunct PHCN staff’s terminal benefits had released additional 1,037 names for verification and payment of terminal benefits.
The statement said the list categorised as ‘Active Staff of PHCN’ would be verified at nine designated centres across the country from February 2 to 11.
According to the statement, the committee has also drawn out verification check lists for the retirees, next-of-kins and severance details.
It said the check-list for the three categories of persons to be verified, listed out documents to be presented by all beneficiaries at the designated payment centres.
The statement stated that Nigerians deserved to have adequate information, to enable them to have informed position of the issues involved.
It said President Goodluck Jonathan’s directives to the committee to be diligent in the validation processes demonstrated a clear understanding of the nation’s labour law.