Retirees of Nigeria Airways, around 6,000 strong, lament their exclusion from the Defined Benefits Scheme post-airline liquidation in 2004. Stephen Onuh and Ahmed Sulugambari, Chairman and Vice Chairman of AARWN, lead the effort to meet Minister Festus Keyamo.
They aim to address their concerns directly with government officials, highlighting their dismay over perceived neglect by ministry staff.
In a letter dated December 5, 2023, addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the retirees emphasized their entitlement to lifelong pensions, citing their enrollment in the DBS until the airline’s dissolution. They claim that the government controversially removed them from the scheme, despite assurances of continuous support until death.
The retirees also criticize the delay in resolving their pension arrears, part of which was paid as a N45 billion severance package. They argue that this payment only partially covers over a decade of unpaid pensions since the airline’s closure.
The petitioners said: “The N45 billion paid to our members were part-payment of our accumulated pension arrears for over 10 years. We were on the monthly pension payroll before the liquidation in September 2004 with a retired letter.
Government bodies such as the Senate and House of Representatives intervened, urging integration of retirees into federal pension payroll. Despite these efforts, bureaucratic hurdles within the Ministry of Aviation persist, according to the retirees’ recent communications.
In a letter dated May 20, 2024, the retirees expressed frustration with the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace, accusing certain officials of obstructing their efforts to regain pension entitlements. They allege systematic denial of integration into the government’s monthly pension scheme, despite repeated appeals dating back to 2015.
The retirees urge Minister Keyamo to intervene, asserting their constitutional right to fair treatment under Section 173(1999 constitution). They seek an audience to present their case, aiming for a swift resolution to uphold their pension rights.
Their ongoing advocacy aims to achieve justice and secure their financial futures amidst administrative neglect and bureaucratic resistance.
