The Federal Government has approved pensions for retired aviation workers after a grueling 22-year wait.
The approval followed years of sustained advocacy by unions demanding justice for retired workers.
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 would begin soon, with a pledge to ensure transparency and fairness throughout the process.
The statement added, “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, which operated from 1958 to 2003, was fully owned by the Federal Government.
Upon its closure, over 6,000 former workers were left without their full pensions and gratuities, prompting nearly two decades of demands for justice.
Stakeholders have welcomed the development, seeing it as a long-overdue step toward restoring dignity and trust in the aviation industry.
Many have expressed relief that the Federal Government has finally taken steps to address the issue.
In 2018, aviation unions threatened to shut down Nigerian airspace over the government’s failure to release N45 billion in entitlements owed to 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 N22 billion for partial payment.
However, union records indicated 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.
This move likely contributed to the Federal Government’s decision to approve the pensions.
The approval of pensions for retired aviation workers is a welcome development.
It demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the plight of workers who have waited for nearly two decades for their entitlements.
