AVIATION EXPERTS DECRY UNPAID NIGERIA AIRWAYS VETERANS’ ENTITLEMENTS

Aviation experts have condemned the continued delay in paying entitlements owed to more than 4,000 former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited, describing the situation as an injustice to workers who devoted decades to the country’s aviation industry.

The Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative raised the concern in a statement by its President, Air Commodore (retd) Ademola Onitiju.

Onitiju said the former Nigeria Airways workers had endured more than two decades of uncertainty and repeated assurances since the airline was liquidated in April 2003.

He said many of the affected retirees had reached old age without receiving their legitimate benefits, while some had reportedly died before receiving their entitlements.

The aviation expert noted that the former employees played important roles in developing Nigeria’s aviation sector and promoting the country internationally through their work with the national carrier.

He also raised concerns about the impact of the prolonged delay on the morale of Nigerians currently serving in public institutions, arguing that workers need confidence that their contributions will be recognised after retirement.

The ASRTI president recalled that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had disclosed in December 2025 that President Bola Tinubu approved the payment of the former workers’ entitlements and that the approval had been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for implementation.

However, reports that the presidential approval document was subsequently considered missing raised further concerns.

Onitiju said he was relieved by reports that the document had been located but urged the government to move immediately from documentation to actual payment.

He called on the aviation and finance ministries to work together to ensure the retirees receive their outstanding entitlements without further bureaucratic delays.

He said the government still had an opportunity to correct the situation and honour the former Nigeria Airways workers who contributed their productive years to the development of the country’s aviation industry.