Ex-Nigeria Airways staff decry unpaid ₦36b gratuity

Employees and pensioners of the defunct Nigeria Airways have decried unpaid ₦36 billion gratuity and severance package approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2025.

A former pilot of the airline, Capt. Prekeme Porbeni, made the complaint on behalf of more than 5,000 redundant employees and retirees of the airline at a news conference on Thursday in Lagos.

He highlighted the deteriorating living conditions and rising death toll among the former employees.

According to Porbeni, some of the former employees are now over 100 years old.

He noted that following  liquidation of the national carrier in 2004, the Federal Government and aviation workers’ unions agreed on a  total severance package of ₦78 billion.

Porbeni said that the settlement was intended as a one-off payment representing 15 years of salary for each staff.

According to him, while successive administrations made progress on it, a balance of ₦36 billion remained outstanding.

He said that in June 2025, Tinubu rekindled  hope in the aviation community by  approving the release of the remaining amount.

He, however,  said that the remaining amount had yet to reach the beneficiaries.

“Several efforts have been made by the unions, concerned organisations, national legislators and the supervising Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to ensure  payment of this outstanding balance.

“Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the matter has remained unresolved. The consequence of this prolonged delay has been devastating.

“Many of the affected former workers are now elderly citizens aged between 65 and 101 years.

“These men and women served Nigeria faithfully during their active years as pilots, engineers, cabin crew, technicians, administrators, accountants, and other aviation professionals who helped  to build the nation’s aviation industry,” he said.

He appealed to the Federal Government, relevant agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to help to draw urgent attention to the situation.

“We humbly call on government agencies responsible for implementing this presidential approval to expedite action on the payment.

“This is not merely a financial obligation. It is a matter of justice, compassion and national conscience.

“These men and women served Nigeria faithfully in their youth and deserve dignity and relief in the evening of their lives.

“Our members are aging and suffering, and sadly, many are dying by the day,” he said.

He said that about 600 of the former staff had lost their lives after the first tranche of payment.