The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has dismissed claims that more than 1,000 of its retirees have been denied pension benefits, insisting that the allegations contained in a recent newspaper report are inaccurate and fail to reflect the true state of pension administration within the agency.
In a rebuttal issued on Thursday, June 18, 2026, NAMA described the publication, titled “Unpaid Pension: Over 1,000 NAMA Retirees Seek FG’s Intervention,” as misleading and lacking the necessary legal and administrative context required to provide a balanced account of the issues surrounding retirees’ entitlements.
The agency said while public scrutiny remains essential in a democratic society, such scrutiny must be based on facts and proper understanding rather than sensational narratives capable of creating false impressions.
The statement, signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr Abdullahi Musa, maintained that the report wrongly portrayed the agency as unwilling to meet its obligations to retired employees, a characterisation it described as “demonstrably false”.
According to the agency, the welfare of retirees has remained one of the major priorities of the management led by the Managing Director, Engr Farouk Ahmed Umar, since assuming office.
NAMA disclosed that in line with this commitment, the current management commissioned a comprehensive actuarial assessment to determine pension adjustments covering the years 2007, 2010, 2019 and 2024.
It stated that the exercise had been successfully concluded and that the report arising from the assessment was already being implemented through established administrative channels.
The agency argued that such measures clearly demonstrate a proactive commitment to pensioners and are inconsistent with allegations suggesting neglect of retired workers.
NAMA also stressed that it has maintained regular engagement with representatives of retirees and other stakeholders through consultations aimed at addressing pension-related concerns.
According to the agency, the most recent meeting between management and representatives of retirees took place on June 10, 2026, during which both parties agreed that clarification should be sought from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) regarding certain technical issues requiring regulatory interpretation.
The agency said it acted promptly by forwarding the relevant correspondence to PenCom and is presently awaiting an official response from the pension regulator.
NAMA noted that the move underscores its commitment to transparency, due process and collaborative problem-solving.
The agency further clarified that accrued pension rights relating to employees who migrated from the old Defined Benefit Scheme to the Contributory Pension Scheme in June 2004 had been fully settled in accordance with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act.
Nigeria introduced the Contributory Pension Scheme under the Pension Reform Act 2004 to replace the largely unsustainable Defined Benefit Scheme.
The reform was aimed at ensuring regular pension payments and reducing the huge pension liabilities that had accumulated under the previous system.
Subsequent amendments to the law, particularly the Pension Reform Act 2014, strengthened the regulatory powers of PenCom and provided additional safeguards for contributors and retirees.
NAMA explained that the accrued rights of affected employees had been transferred directly into their respective Retirement Savings Accounts and that the beneficiaries continue to receive monthly pensions through their Pension Fund Administrators and annuity providers.
Consequently, the agency maintained that the claim that over 1,000 retirees remain unpaid is not supported by records available to it.
The agency expressed concern that reports containing inaccurate information could generate unnecessary anxiety among retirees, erode public confidence and undermine efforts currently being made to resolve outstanding issues through appropriate channels.
According to NAMA, such reports also have the potential to damage the reputation of institutions working within the confines of the law and pursuing constructive engagement with stakeholders.
As a result, the agency called for the immediate withdrawal of the publication and demanded a prominent public apology from the newspaper responsible for what it described as the dissemination of misleading information.
“The newspaper owes both NAMA and the general public a duty to correct the record,” the statement said.
Reaffirming its position, NAMA pledged to continue engaging with PenCom and recognised representatives of retirees to ensure that all pension-related matters are resolved in a lawful, fair and sustainable manner.
The agency reiterated that it remains committed to transparency, accountability and the welfare of its pensioners, adding that ongoing consultations with relevant stakeholders would continue in the interest of achieving lasting solutions to any outstanding concerns.
The rebuttal comes amid growing public attention on pension administration in Nigeria, where labour unions and retiree groups have repeatedly called for prompt payment of entitlements and improved welfare for former public servants.
PenCom, established under the Pension Reform Act, remains the apex regulator responsible for supervising and ensuring the effective administration of pension matters across the country.
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