FG pays ₦18bn severance to 2,100 ex-Nigeria Airways workers, processes 600 more
On Friday, September 11, 2026, the Federal Government paid outstanding severance benefits totaling ₦18 billion to 2,100 former workers of defunct Nigeria Airways (Batches 1-7), according to a Ministry of Finance statement. Another 600 workers in Batches 8-9 are being processed for payment and are expected to receive their benefits within days, bringing the total beneficiaries under this exercise to 2,700. The ministry confirmed the ₦18 billion covers all nine batches of eligible former employees.
Nigeria Airways, established in 1958 as Nigeria's national carrier, ceased operations in 2003 and was liquidated in 2004. Many former workers spent over two decades pursuing unpaid terminal and severance benefits. This payment follows years of advocacy, including a January 2025 threat by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation to withhold approval of the aviation budget unless the Federal Government addressed the ₦36 billion it said was owed to ex-workers.
The payment process involved President Bola Tinubu's approval of the settlement, oversight by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele, and collaboration with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo. Oyedele emphasized the initiative addresses legitimate outstanding obligations, stating: "Behind these figures are people and families who have waited for years to receive what is legitimately due to them."
If you're a former Nigeria Airways worker in Batches 8-9, monitor your bank for payment within days; others can verify their status and payment details through the Federal Ministry of Finance's official portal or contact centers.