Some relations of deceased workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Ltd. on Monday protested the exclusion of their relatives from benefits, as the Federal Government commences final verification for the payment of the entitlements of the former employees.
PRESS STATEMENT
Issued by: Children and Next-of-Kin of Deceased Ex-Staff of Nigeria Airways Limited (Liquidated)
Subject: Clarification on Inclusion of Next-of-Kin (2010 and below) in the Final 50% Entitlement Payment
Lagos, October 2026.
Our attention has been drawn to the ongoing final payment of severance entitlements to ex-staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA).
We, the children and legal Next-of-Kin of deceased ex-staff, wish to state as follows:
1. We acknowledge and deeply appreciate the Federal Government for approving the final tranche of payment to clear the long-standing entitlements of Nigeria Airways workers.
2. We confirm that the total agreed entitlement for all verified staff is N45.3 Billion, out of which only 50% (N22.68 Billion) was paid in 2018. The current exercise is therefore the payment of the outstanding 50% balance, not a new scheme.
3. We are concerned about reports from some quarters that Next-of-Kin of deceased ex-staff who died before 30th June 2010 are excluded from this final payment on account of an alleged “law”.
4. To date, no such law, circular, gazette, or directive from the Federal Government or the Federal Ministry of Finance has been produced or published to support this exclusion. The official mandate of PICA has always been to pay “all verified ex-staff and documented Next-of-Kin.”
5. Under the Pension Reform Act 2014 and the Administration of Estates Law, gratuity forms part of the estate of a deceased worker and is payable to his legal beneficiaries upon presentation of Letters of Administration. This right has no expiry date.
6. Many of us were verified and paid the first 50% in 2018 as legitimate Next-of-Kin. We therefore remain entitled to the remaining 50% balance.
We are engaging constructively with the leadership of the Nigeria Airways Union and with the officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance, to seek clarification and ensure that no verified Next-of-Kin is unjustly excluded.
We appeal to the media to help us seek clarity and urge all affected Next-of-Kin (2010 downwards) to remain calm and law-abiding while we pursue this matter through appropriate channels.
We trust that the Federal Government will ensure fairness, equity, and inclusion for all.
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