NIGERIA AIRWAYS: ASRTI urges Keyamo, Finance Ministry to release ex-workers’ entitlement

Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, ASRTI, has lamented the continued delay in paying the entitlements of over 4,000 former staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways, describing it as a grave injustice.

Nigeria Airways, the country’s national airline, was liquidated in September 2004 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

ASRTI said that since the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced at the centenary celebration of 100 years of civil aviation in Nigeria that President Bola Tinubu had approved the payment, nothing had been done.

The President of ASRTI, Air Commodore Ademola Onitiju, retd, in a statement, called for the officials responsible for the delay to be held accountable in accordance with the relevant public service regulations.

The statement reads:  “Nigeria Airways was never a private enterprise; it was the proud national carrier and a symbol of our collective sovereignty. The men and women who worked there were dedicated professionals who served with unwavering zeal, trusting that the nation they built would care for them in their golden years. Instead, they have been subjected to over two decades of agonising neglect following the airline’s abrupt liquidation in April 2003.

“The human cost of this delay is a national tragedy and a bad omen to citizens currently serving Nigeria dedicatedly. It is uninspirational to see hundreds of elderly beneficiaries dying tragically from age-related illnesses and preventable health complications: struggling with hypertension, diabetes, and basic penury. These senior citizens could have lived dignified, qualitative lives if their rightful benefits had been timely paid. 

“Sadly, they have been reduced to enduring a dehumanising cycle of false hopes. It will be recalled that in December 2025, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced at the centenary celebration of 100 years of civil aviation in Nigeria that President Bola Tinubu had graciously approved the payment of the entitlements of ex- Nigeria Airways staff sometime ago and had forwarded it to the Ministry of Finance for implementation. 

The administrative negligence and outrightsabotage of presidential sincerity of purpose is unacceptable.

“It is heartwarming to hear that the reportedly missing presidential approval document has been tracked and should be acted upon forthwith. 

“Officials responsible for this systemic stalling, sabotage or misplacement should be held accountable in accordance with the appropriate public service regulations.

“While we commend the efforts of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, we appeal to him to urgently liaise with the Minister of Finance and relevant authorities to effect these payments without further delay.

“These veterans served Nigeria and gave it the better part of their youthful years .To reward their decades of patriotic service with avoidable suffering and administrative ping-pong is a stain on our national conscience that must be corrected immediately.”