After more than two decades of relentless advocacy and waiting, former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways are finally set to receive their pension benefits, thanks to the decisive intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN.
The announcement, made during an emotional gathering at the Secretariat of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) in Lagos, marks a historic milestone in Nigeria’s aviation sector. Union leaders under the Aviation Union Grand Alliance (AUGA), led by Comrade Captain Shaibu Alfa and Comrade Wusaini Ibrahim, described the development as a victory for justice, perseverance, and responsive governance.
Nigeria Airways ceased operations on September 30, 2004, leaving thousands of workers in limbo. Over the years, many of them passed away without receiving their entitlements. The approval of their long-delayed pensions has brought both joy and tears to surviving staff and their families, who had endured years of hardship and neglect.
Captain Alfa commended Minister Keyamo for his hands-on leadership, revealing that the minister not only engaged actively with stakeholders but also personally accompanied union leaders to the Ministry of Finance to push for the release of the funds. “His empathy, commitment, and sense of duty have made the difference. Minister Keyamo didn’t just listen—he acted,” Alfa said.
Commemorating those who died in the struggle, a minute of silence was observed during the gathering. The unions vowed to ensure no former staff member is left behind, urging the government to expedite the disbursement process and avoid any further bureaucratic delays that could taint the goodwill already generated.
In a related development, the Minister also announced another significant victory for Nigeria’s aviation industry: the successful acquisition of a coveted landing slot at Heathrow Airport in London for Nigeria’s flag carrier, Air Peace. This achievement follows months of diplomatic efforts to enforce Nigeria’s reciprocal rights under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with the United Kingdom.
“My dear compatriots, after many months of diplomatic exchanges and shuttles, insisting on our reciprocal rights under our Bilateral Air Services Agreement, we are pleased to announce that Nigeria has finally secured the coveted Heathrow slot for one of our flag carriers, @flyairpeace,” Keyamo said in a statement via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
The Minister affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting indigenous airlines under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, while holding them accountable to the highest standards of service delivery.
The unions praised the Minister’s transformative leadership and called on President Tinubu to recognize and retain him in his role, highlighting the significant progress made in worker welfare and aviation sector development under his watch.
As the pension disbursement process begins, stakeholders are hopeful that this milestone will usher in a new era of dignity for workers and compassionate governance in Nigeria’s public service.
