After more than two decades of waiting, former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways are set to receive their long-overdue pensions.
This landmark development, announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, ends a 21-year struggle for justice that began when the national airline ceased operations on September 30, 2004.
Many of the affected ex-staff had either passed away or lived in financial despair while awaiting their entitlements. The formal announcement was made during a gathering at the Secretariat Headquarters of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Concord, Airport Road, Lagos.
Captain Shaibu Alfa, President of the Aviation Union Grand Alliance, described the development as a victory for perseverance and justice. He praised Minister Keyamo for not only listening to the appeals of the affected workers but actively facilitating the process to completion.
“Minister Keyamo has demonstrated what it means to serve with empathy,” Alfa stated. “He didn’t just listen—he acted. History will remember him.”
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The union also honored the memory of deceased workers who died waiting for their pensions with a minute of silence. “Their sacrifice will not be forgotten,” Alfa added.
In a related major development for Nigeria’s aviation sector, the Federal Government has successfully secured a landing slot at the prestigious Heathrow Airport in London for Air Peace Airline. Keyamo shared the news via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, noting that this achievement followed months of diplomatic engagement centered on asserting Nigeria’s 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 stated.
He emphasized that the move is part of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes support for indigenous airlines while upholding high service standards.
“We are committed to offering similar support to all our local operators,” Keyamo added. “Whilst we support their businesses to grow, we also hold them to the highest standards in terms of delivering quality services to the flying public.”
These dual developments — pension approval for former national airline staff and strategic international access for a private Nigerian carrier — mark a turning point in Nigeria’s aviation reforms, promising relief for past workers and growth for the industry’s future.
TheGuardian
