By Chinelo Obogo
The National President of the Aviation and Airport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), John Ogbe, has warned that the association will mobilise against government agencies obstructing the release of ₦36 billion in outstanding severance benefits owed to over 5,000 former Nigerian Airways employees.
Speaking to Daily Sun in support of the ex-workers, Ogbe commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the final tranche of the long-overdue severance package which was a presidential directive issued in June 2025 and acknowledged the role of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo in securing that approval.
However, he expressed concern that the funds have yet to reach the affected former workers, more than two decades after the airline’s liquidation in 2004.
“I urge government immediate intervention to make this payment, as a gift during the May Day celebration. Also, ATSSSAN would be mobilising to the relevant government agencies stalling the payment to drive home our concerns,” he told Daily Sun.
The ₦36 billion outstanding balance is part of a ₦78 billion one-off severance settlement which is usually calculated at 25 years of each officer’s salary and was agreed upon between staff unions and the Federal Government following the airline’s liquidation. While successive administrations made partial payments over the years, the remainder has lingered unpaid.
At a press briefing on Thursday in Lagos, former members of staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways led by Capt. Prekene Porbeni, said that more than two 20 years after the liquidation of the airline, they are still owed ₦36 billion from an agreed ₦78 billion settlement despite the approval President Tinubu made in June 2025.
They said their death toll has now reached about 600 and that many of them live in extreme hardship while a significant number are battling hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and other conditions worsened by rising healthcare costs.
The staff said: “We speak as worried ex-staff of the liquidated Nigerian Airways, representing over five thousand former employees and pensioners who were rendered redundant following the liquidation of the airline in 2004. Furthermore, we hope that this cry will support the struggles our unions officials have been in for the past 20 two years.
“Following the liquidation, negotiations were held between the airline unions and the Federal Government of Nigeria. At the conclusion of those negotiations, it was agreed that all staff both serving employees at the time of liquidation and existing pensioners would receive a one-off severance settlement calculated to represent 25 years of each officer’s salary as a final settlement of their benefits and emoluments.
“The total agreed amount for this settlement was ₦78 billion. Over the years, successive administrations made partial payments toward this obligation. However, by the time those payments ended, the outstanding balance stood at approximately ₦36 billion. Since then, several efforts have been made by the unions, concerned organizations, national legislators, and the supervising Federal Ministry of
“We appreciate the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo in his effort to ensure the 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 build the nation’s aviation industry. In June 2025, hope was rekindled when President BolaTinubu approved the payment of the outstanding ₦36 billion owed to the ex-staff and pensioners of Nigerian Airways. This news of the approval brought immense relief and renewed hope to thousands of affected families across Nigeria.
“However, it is with deep pain that we must inform the nation that nearly a year after the presidential approval, the payment has still not been implemented. The suffering of our elderly members continues. Many are unable to afford feeding and basic medical treatment, while others struggle daily to survive.
“We therefore respectfully appeal through this media briefing to all relevant authorities and well-meaning Nigerians to help draw urgent attention to this humanitarian situation. We humbly call on the appropriate government agencies responsible for implementing this presidential approval to expedite the immediate release and payment of the approved funds.
“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, suffering, and sadly, many are dying by the day. We remain hopeful that the government will act swiftly to ensure that the approved payment is implemented without further delay.”
Leave a comment