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Jul
FG APPROVES PENSIONS FOR RETIRED NIGERIA AIRWAYS WORKERS AFTER 22 YEARS
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CapitalTimesNews / 6 days
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- 2 min read
The Federal Government has approved the payment of long-overdue pensions to retired aviation workers, including former employees of Nigeria Airways, nearly 22 years after their retirement. According to a statement shared by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Ministry of Aviation has confirmed that disbursements will begin soon, with a commitment to 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,” the statement read. “This decision follows years of advocacy by unions pushing for justice for retirees, especially from defunct national carriers.” The payment approval also factored in former staff of Nigeria Airways, which operated from 1958 until it ceased operations in 2003 due to mismanagement, corruption, and mounting debts. Upon its closure, over 6,000 former workers were left without their full pensions and gratuities, prompting nearly two decades of demands for justice. The decision follows years of sustained advocacy by unions demanding justice for retired workers, particularly those from defunct national carriers. In 2018, aviation unions threatened to shut down Nigerian airspace over the government’s failure to release N45 billion in entitlements owed to retirees. Former President Muhammadu Buhari approved N22 billion for partial payment, but N36 billion remained unpaid, leaving many retirees in financial distress. “The Ministry of Aviation confirmed that the payments will be processed soon, with a commitment to transparency,” the statement added. Stakeholders have welcomed the development, seeing it as a long-overdue step toward restoring dignity and trust in the aviation industry. The approval is a result of persistent pressure from unions, lawmakers, and civil society. 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.