In a long-awaited move, the Federal Government has approved the payment of pensions to retired workers of the now-defunct Nigeria Airways—more than two decades after the national carrier was grounded.
This milestone announcement was made via the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Tuesday through its official X (formerly Twitter) account. According to the statement, the Ministry of Aviation confirmed both the approval and imminent disbursement of the long-overdue entitlements.
“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 said. “This decision follows years of advocacy by unions pushing for justice for retirees, especially from defunct national carriers.”
The Ministry of Aviation further pledged transparency in the distribution process, emphasizing that payments will be made fairly and efficiently in the coming weeks.
Nigeria Airways, the country’s former flagship airline, operated between 1958 and 2003, before collapsing under the weight of mismanagement, corruption, and overwhelming debts. Its shutdown left over 6,000 employees without adequate severance or pension, sparking years of protests and legal battles by affected workers and labor unions.
Tuesday’s announcement has been met with cautious optimism from aviation stakeholders and retirees alike, many of whom have waited in vain for over 22 years for their compensation. The government’s pledge to honor these commitments marks a turning point in a long-standing grievance in Nigeria’s aviation history.
