Former employees and pensioners of the defunct Nigeria Airways have issued an urgent appeal to the Federal Government over the continued delay in the release of their long-approved severance benefits, describing their plight as a humanitarian crisis marked by hardship, neglect, and mounting fatalities.
In a strongly worded statement, the ex-workers lamented that more than two decades after the liquidation of the national carrier in 2004, thousands of former staff – many now elderly and above the age of 65 – remain without full access to their entitlements.
They recalled that the airline, once a symbol of national pride, had employees drawn from across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, all of whom served the country with dedication and professionalism.
The group expressed deep frustration that despite the approval of N36 billion for the settlement of outstanding severance benefits by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2025, the funds have yet to be released several months later. The approval, they noted, had rekindled hope among pensioners and ex-staff who have endured years of deprivation, ill health, and financial distress.
They, however, decried what they described as a “prolonged bureaucratic delay,” alleging that the Office of the Honourable Minister of Finance, led by Wale Edun, has not authorised the disbursement of the approved funds.
According to them, the delay has had devastating consequences, with many former workers reportedly dying in penury, unable to afford basic necessities such as food, shelter, and medical care.
The statement painted a grim picture of the condition of many beneficiaries, noting that several are bedridden and battling chronic illnesses without adequate treatment, while others have died quietly with their entitlements still unpaid.
It stressed that the affected individuals are not mere statistics but include former pilots, engineers, cabin crew, technicians, and administrative personnel who once upheld Nigeria’s image across Africa and beyond.
Raising critical concerns, the ex-workers questioned why a presidentially approved payment should remain stalled in administrative processes, warning that the continued delay has transcended bureaucracy and now constitutes a matter of urgent national and humanitarian importance. They warned that each passing day compounds the suffering of the ageing beneficiaries, many of whom no longer have the luxury of time.
The group therefore made a passionate appeal to the Minister of Finance and all relevant authorities to immediately authorise and release the funds, insisting that the benefits are lawful entitlements rather than discretionary payments. They emphasised that failure to act promptly would amount to denying justice to citizens who had served the nation faithfully.
While expressing appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the payment, the ex-workers urged the government to ensure swift implementation, stressing that Nigeria must not be seen as a nation that abandons its loyal workforce in retirement.
They concluded by calling for compassion, responsibility, and decisive action to prevent further avoidable deaths among the affected pensioners, insisting that justice delayed, particularly for the elderly, is justice denied.
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