Abuja – Retired staff of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have cried out over unpaid pension increases that have been pending since 2007, despite several government directives ordering implementation.
The retirees say the agency has refused to adjust their pensions, leaving many of them in hardship and unable to meet basic needs. Some claim that their colleagues have died due to financial stress while waiting for the payment.
One affected pensioner said he worked as a maintenance engineer for nearly 30 years. He explained how critical their work was in ensuring the safety of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
“All the equipment used for safe landing and takeoff, even in bad weather, we were the ones maintaining it,” he said. “We handled the purchase and servicing. But now, after many years of service, we are suffering.”
He added that their pensions were initially paid into their Retirement Savings Accounts, but the periodic increments promised by the government were never honoured.
“The government said the pensions should be reviewed every five years. But since then, we’ve been collecting the same amount—nothing has changed. It’s like receiving one naira since 2007,” he lamented.
The pensioners accuse NAMA of ignoring official letters and refusing to comply with the law. “We are not begging for charity. This is our right. Yet, when we write, they say we are not entitled to anything,” the retiree added.
Another retired staff, Mr. Stephen, who was once the Director of Air Traffic Services, gave further insight into the matter. He explained that the issue started after the Pension Reform Act of 2004, which moved federal workers into a new contributory pension system.
Stephen said, “By 2007, NAMA was expected to calculate and pay the accrued pension rights to retirees, but they never did. No adjustments were made since then. PENCOM even sent several letters directing them to increase our pension payments, but they refused to act.”
He pointed to a specific letter dated April 23, 2015, from the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) to NAMA. The letter referenced Section 15(4) of the Pension Reform Act 2014 and reminded the agency of its duty to review and pay pension increments regularly as stated in the Nigerian Constitution.
“The law is clear, and PENCOM made it known. Yet NAMA continues to pretend they owe us nothing,” Stephen said. “They even claimed to the Federal Monetary Foundation that they’re not owing us. But we have debunked that claim with facts and evidence.”
The retirees are now calling on President Bola Tinubu and the Ministry of Aviation to intervene and ensure justice is served.
