The Nigerian Government has approved pension payments for retired aviation workers, ending a 22-year wait for thousands of former employees, particularly those of the now-defunct Nigeria Airways.
In a statement issued on Tuesday via the National Orientation Agency’s official X account, the government confirmed that disbursements will commence soon. The Ministry of Aviation assured that the process would be conducted with transparency and fairness.
“The Nigerian 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.”
Nigeria Airways operated from 1958 until 2003, when it was shut down due to mismanagement, corruption, and debts. The closure left more than 6,000 workers without full pensions or gratuities, sparking decades-long demands for redress.
Stakeholders have widely welcomed the move, viewing it as a long-overdue step toward restoring dignity and trust in the aviation sector.
In 2018, several aviation unions — including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) — threatened to ground flights over the Federal Government’s delay in releasing ₦45 billion in outstanding entitlements.
That same year, then-President Muhammadu Buhari approved ₦22 billion for partial settlement. However, union records showed ₦36 billion remained unpaid. The delay led to financial hardship for many retirees, with several dying without receiving their benefits.
Earlier this year, in January 2025, the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation warned the Ministry of Aviation that its budget might be blocked unless provisions were made to settle the outstanding debts to former workers.
The Ministry has now confirmed that it is finalising payment arrangements.