After more than two decades of protests, legal battles, and dashed hopes, the Federal Government has finally approved the disbursement of long-awaited pensions for retired staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways, offering long-overdue relief to thousands of former aviation workers.
In a statement posted Tuesday on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) confirmed that the Ministry of Aviation would begin processing payments “soon,” following official approval.
“The Federal Government has approved the long-awaited pensions for retired aviation workers, bringing long-overdue relief to thousands who served in the sector,” the NOA stated. “The Ministry of Aviation confirmed that the payments will be processed soon, with a commitment to transparency.”
The announcement marks a milestone victory for retirees, many of whom have lived in financial hardship since the airline’s collapse in 2003, which followed years of corruption, mismanagement, and ballooning debt. Over 6,000 workers were affected, most of whom never received their full entitlements.
Unions, including NUATE, ATSSSAN, and NAAPE, were instrumental in keeping pressure on successive administrations. In 2018, the unions threatened to shut down Nigerian airspace over the unpaid benefits, prompting then-President Muhammadu Buhari to approve ₦22 billion as a partial settlement. Yet union leaders estimated that at least ₦36 billion remained outstanding.
Earlier this year, the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation issued a strong warning to the Ministry of Aviation: no budget passage without provision for outstanding pension liabilities. That ultimatum appears to have helped force the government’s hand.
Aviation stakeholders and union leaders have welcomed the new development, calling it a "moral correction" and a step toward restoring dignity to the country's retired aviation workforce.
“This is not just a payment — it’s justice, though long delayed,” said one union official.
The Ministry of Aviation has pledged full transparency in the disbursement process, a crucial assurance for retirees who have long suffered from broken promises and bureaucratic stonewalling.
