FG ENDORSES RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR FORMER EMPLOYEES OF LIQUIDATED NIGERIA AIRWAYS 22 YEARS AFTER
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BY ALICE IDOWU
In a statement shared by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) via its official X account on Tuesday, the Agency said that the Ministry of Aviation has confirmed that disbursements will begin soon, with a pledge to ensure transparency and fairness throughout the process.
“The Federal Government has approved the long-awaited pensions for retired aviation workers, bringing long-overdue relief to thousands who served in the sector. This decision follows years of advocacy by unions pushing for justice for retirees, especially from defunct national carriers.
“The Ministry of Aviation confirmed that the payments will be processed soon, with a commitment to transparency,” the statement read in part.
The payment approval also factored in former staff of the airline.
Nigeria Airways functioned from 1958 until it discontinued operations in 2003 as a result of poor management, corruption, and increasing liabilities. It was wholly owned by the Federal Government.
Following its cessation, more than 6,000 ex-employees were deprived of their complete retirement benefits and severance payments, inciting nearly twenty years of appeals for redress.
The resolution comes after years of persistent efforts by labor unions seeking equity for retired employees, especially those from discontinued national airlines.
The statement added that stakeholders have welcomed the development. Many see it as a long-overdue step toward restoring dignity and trust in the aviation industry.
In 2018, aviation unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), warned of a potential closure of Nigerian airspace due to the government’s failure to disburse N45 billion in benefits owed to the retirees.
The unions condemned the delayed payments and warned the then Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, that they would not stand by while retirees continued to die without receiving their benefits.
That same year, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved ₦22 billion for partial payment. However, union records indicate that N36 billion remained unpaid, leaving many retirees in financial distress. Some passed away while waiting for their pensions.
In January 2025, the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation threatened to block the Ministry of Aviation’s budget unless adequate provisions were made for the payment of outstanding entitlements to former Nigeria Airways workers.
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