Humanitarian Crisis: Nigeria Airways Retirees Cry Out Over Unpaid ₦36bn

A former Nigeria Airways pilot and a prominent voice for the airline’s retirees, Capt. Prex Porbeni has described the current situation of the ex-workers as a “humanitarian crisis.”

Porbeni, alongside former spokesman for the airline, Chris Aligbe and union leaders like Sheri Kyari, are intensifying pressure on the government to include this payment in the current fiscal cycle to avoid more deaths among the ageing workforce.

Despite formal approvals from the highest levels of government, the final settlement for these workers, he said, remains stalled in a bureaucratic bottleneck.

Porbeni’s stance remains one of smouldering hope—recognising the President Bola Tinubu’s willingness to help, but calling out the insensitivity of the administrative officials currently sitting on the funds.

The primary frustration voiced by Porbeni and the Joint Aviation Trade Union Forum (JATUF) at a press briefing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Thursday is the disconnect between presidential approval and actual disbursement.

President Bola Tinubu reportedly approved the final settlement of ₦36 billion in June 2025. Nine months later, the funds have yet to be released by the Accountant-General of the Federation, whom they accused of frustrating payment.

Porbeni noted that documentation was forwarded from the Ministry of Aviation to the Ministry of Finance as early as July 24, 2025

Porbeni lamented that more than 21 years have passed since the airline’s liquidation in 2004. In that time, hundreds of former colleagues have died in penury, unable to afford basic medical care or food.

He highlighted that at least 15 more staff members died just in the months following the 2025 approval while waiting for the money.

He said, “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.”

“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.”

He further stated that a significant number are battling age-related illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and other health conditions, which have been aggravated by the harsh economic realities and the rising cost of healthcare and medication, noting that, sadly, the number of avoidable deaths among our members continues to increase, leaving families devastated and communities grieving.

According to him, “In June 2025, hope was rekindled when President Tinubu graciously 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.”

Recall that in 2004, Nigeria Airways was liquidated, leaving over 6,000 workers without full severance. Partial payments were made under the Buhari administration after years of protests.

In June 2025, President Tinubu approved the balance of ₦36bn to bring the matter to a final close. Protests and briefings have continued as the Ministry of Finance has yet to authorise the payout.

A former spokesman of the liquidated airline and the Chief Executive of Belujane Konsult, Chris Azu Aligbe, argued that the poor treatment of Nigeria Airways staff after the 2004 liquidation led to a massive erosion of technical and managerial competence in Nigeria.

He posited that the dearth of technical know-how in the sector is a direct result of the country’s abandonment of its primary source of trained manpower.

He described the continued delay as a stain on the nation’s reputation, noting that while workers in other jurisdictions (like the UK and US) were paid almost immediately after the airline’s collapse, the Nigerian and West Coast staff have been left to struggle for their lives.

Aligbe has frequently pointed out that the ₦37 billion isn’t just a payout—it’s a critical step in restoring investor confidence.

He warned that private investors are wary of the Nigerian aviation sector because of how the government handled its legal obligations to the staff of the defunct national carrier.

Wole Shadare