AFTER more than two decades, former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways will receive their pensions, as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has facilitated the long-awaited approval of their pension benefits.
This development marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s aviation history, ending a prolonged struggle that began after the national carrier shut its doors on September 30, 2004.
Many of the affected Nigeria Airways staff have since passed on, while others lived in despair, waiting for justice and compensation.
The approval was announced during a gathering at the Secretariat Headquarters of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Concord, Airport Road, Lagos.
The development was described as a victory for justice and perseverance by the President of the Aviation Union Grand Alliance (AUGA), Captain Shaibu Alfa.
He praised the minister for not only responding to the appeals of the Nigeria Airways staff but also actively driving the process to success.
“Minister Keyamo has demonstrated what it means to serve with empathy,” Comrade Shaibu stated, stressing that he didn’t just listen, but acted and that history would remember him for that.
The union noted that while many did not live to witness this milestone, their sacrifice would not be forgotten.
A minute of silence was observed in honour of the former workers, who died while awaiting their entitlements.
THE development came as the Federal Government says it has secured a coveted landing slot at Heathrow Airport, London, for Air Peace Airline
Keyamo, who disclosed this in a statement via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, said the development followed months of diplomatic engagements aimed at asserting Nigeria’s reciprocal 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.
The minister assured that the Federal Government would continue to support indigenous airlines in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while also holding them to high service delivery standards.
“We are committed to offering similar support to all our local operators. We are also committed to ensuring that whilst we support their businesses to grow, we hold them to the highest standards in terms of delivering quality services to the flying public,” he added.