By Pensions for Nigeria Airways retirees
Federal Government gives approval after 22-year delay
Summary
- Over 6,000 former aviation workers to finally receive outstanding entitlements following two decades of hardship
- Previous partial payment in 2018 covered only half the ₦45.3bn owed; ₦36bn remained outstanding
- Decision follows years of advocacy by unions and renewed legislative pressure in 2025
Abuja, Nigeria — After more than two decades of persistent lobbying and financial suffering, the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the payment of pensions to retired workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways, along with other retired aviation personnel.
The announcement, made on July 23, 2025, comes as a major relief for over 6,000 former employees who were left in limbo following the liquidation of the national carrier in 2003 due to years of mismanagement, corruption, and spiralling debt.
The Ministry of Aviation confirmed that disbursements would begin shortly and promised that the process would be conducted with “transparency and fairness.”
Nigeria Airways was officially liquidated in 2003, leaving thousands of employees stranded without pensions or severance pay. Despite various appeals, it wasn’t until 2018 that former President Muhammadu Buhari approved a ₦22.68 billion payment, covering only about half of the ₦45.3 billion owed. The remaining ₦36 billion has remained unpaid ever since, sparking widespread outrage among retirees and their families.
Unions such as the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Airways Retired Workers of Nigeria have been at the forefront of the advocacy, staging protests and issuing repeated calls for government intervention.
In a renewed push earlier this year, the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation compelled the Ministry to factor in the outstanding payments in its 2025 budget, a move that likely influenced the latest approval.
In addition to the lump-sum disbursement, the Ministry of Aviation has confirmed that it is working with the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to integrate surviving pensioners into the monthly payroll, potentially under the Defined Benefits Scheme. This responds to a 2024 petition by retirees to President Bola Tinubu demanding their inclusion in a structured pension scheme, rather than being treated as one-time liabilities.
The announcement has been welcomed by retirees and labour groups as a vindication of their resilience. However, the joy is tempered by the memory of colleagues who died without receiving their dues.
“This is a moment of triumph, but also one of sorrow,” said a union representative. “Too many of our members passed on while waiting for justice.”
The case of the Nigeria Airways workers highlights systemic flaws in Nigeria’s pension administration and raises concerns about the welfare of other retired public servants awaiting benefits.
Labour analysts have called for institutional reforms to prevent similar delays in future, including the automation of pension entitlements and stricter enforcement of employer contributions.
