Former staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited, NAL, have renewed their appeal to the Federal Government over the non-payment of long-standing severance benefits, describing the delay as a humanitarian crisis affecting thousands of retirees.
Speaking at a news conference in Lagos, a former pilot of the airline, Captain Prex Paul Beni, said more than 5,000 ex-employees and pensioners have continued to endure hardship since the national carrier was liquidated in 2004.
He recalled that following negotiations with government at the time, a settlement of 78 billion naira was agreed as a one-off severance package, calculated to cover up to 25 years of salaries.
While partial payments were made over the years, about 36 billion naira remains outstanding.
Captain Beni noted that despite repeated interventions by unions, lawmakers and the Ministry of Aviation, the balance has yet to be paid, leaving many retirees now aged between 65 and over 100 struggling to survive.
According to him, the situation has been worsened by rising living costs and health challenges, with several former workers reportedly battling age-related illnesses and an increasing number of deaths recorded among the group.
He, however, acknowledged that hope was raised in June 2025 when President Bola Tinubu approved the release of the outstanding funds, but expressed concern that nearly a year later, the directive has not been implemented.
The former pilot is now urging relevant government agencies to act without further delay, stressing that the payment is not just a financial obligation, but a matter of justice and dignity for those who served the nation during the airline’s peak years.
He warned that time is running out for many of the beneficiaries, calling for urgent intervention to bring relief to the ageing retirees.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen