Pensioners hail Tinubu over N18bn Nigeria Airways payout - Punch Newspapers

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners has commended President Bola Tinubu for the commencement of payment of N18bn in outstanding severance benefits to 2,700 former workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways, describing the intervention as a long-awaited relief for beneficiaries who had waited for more than two decades. In a statement signed by its National President, Godwin Abumisi, the NUP said it was pleased that its several calls and pleas to Tinubu to pay the long-outstanding entitlements of the former Nigeria Airways workers had not fallen on deaf ears. The union said it had repeatedly raised the matter through press statements and releases, open letters to the President and other engagements, urging the Federal Government to bring relief to the affected former workers. It said the payment represented “justice delayed but finally delivered” to Nigerians who gave their productive years to the country, noting that many beneficiaries had struggled with medical bills, feeding and family responsibilities, while some died without receiving their entitlements. The NUP commended Tinubu, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, the Federal Ministry of Finance and all ministries, departments and agencies involved in the verification, processing and commencement of the payment. It also commended the Presidential Initiative and Continuous Audit for its efforts towards ensuring that the payment exercise progressed successfully. The union appealed for the process to be completed smoothly and transparently, with the proposed mop-up verification capturing genuine beneficiaries whose cases remained unresolved, including those with incorrect banking details and deceased beneficiaries whose legitimate entitlements should, after due verification and legal processes, go to their next of kin or lawful estates. “The NUP appeals to President Tinubu: please finish what you have started. Let every genuine beneficiary be captured and paid,” Abumisi stated. The NUP also praised Tinubu for the commencement of payment of additional exit benefits to retirees of treasury-funded ministries, departments and agencies under the Federal Government Exit Benefit Scheme, amounting to N1.1bn for 175 retirees who exited the Federal Public Service between January 1 and August 31, 2026. FG targets 200 new telecom sites before December Subsidy was never Nigeria’s problem Economic reforms gain traction amid weak budget implementation It described the development as another positive step towards addressing the retirement needs of former public servants. However, the union renewed its appeal for the payment of the three-month N25,000 monthly palliative approved for pensioners following the removal of the fuel subsidy in 2023. The NUP said three years after the approval, affected pensioners were still awaiting payment, which it noted would provide relief amid prevailing economic pressures. It appealed to Tinubu to direct the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and urged the ministry, “as a matter of responsibility”, to do everything within its powers and mandate to ensure that the promised palliative was fulfilled. The union equally appealed for continued attention to outstanding pension arrears, gratuities and other retirement benefits owed at the federal level, as well as the plight of state and local government pensioners who, it said, remained unpaid for months or years in some cases. The NUP stressed that elderly pensioners still needed food, rent and medicines after decades of service, with some depending on children, relatives, friends and neighbours for survival. “Pension is not charity. Gratuity is not a favour. Retirement benefits are legitimate entitlements earned through years of service,” the union stated. The NUP expressed appreciation for the relief being extended to former Nigeria Airways workers and retirees under the Exit Benefit Scheme, saying such interventions demonstrated the positive impact of timely government action on the lives of pensioners and retirees. Deborah Tolu-Kolawole Deborah Tolu-Kolawole is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with four years of experience covering Nigeria’s vast education sector as well as related areas such as politics, health, security, and labour. She blends rigorous reporting with digital storytelling to bring clarity and insight to complex issues affecting learners, educators, and policymakers. Deborah was a nominee for The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) Prize in Journalism, recognising her impactful reporting and contributions to Nigerian media. Her work reflects strong newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism. In addition to her reporting, she is fluent in multiple languages and serves as a contributing member of The Punch editorial board.

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