Former employees and pensioners of the defunct Nigerian Airways have raised alarm over what they described as a growing wave of deaths and deteriorating health conditions among their members, blaming the situation on the non-payment of the N36 billion severance package approved by President Bola Tinubu.

Addressing journalists in a press briefing yesterday, the aggrieved ex-workers said nearly a year after the presidential approval was granted in June 2025, the payment was yet to be implemented, leaving thousands of retirees in severe hardship.

Speaking on behalf of the group, a former pilot of Nigerian Airways, Prekeme Porbemi, said the delay had worsened the suffering of over 5,000 former staff and pensioners of the oncethriving national carrier, Nigerian Airways, which was liquidated in 2004.

They recalled that following the airline’s liquidation, an agreement was reached between aviation unions and the Federal Government to pay a one-off severance package equivalent to 25 years of each worker’s salary, totaling N78 billion.

However, after partial payments by successive administrations, an outstanding balance of about N36 billion remains unpaid. According to them, despite sustained efforts by unions, stakeholders, and the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the issue has lingered unresolved.

The ex-workers expressed deep concern that many beneficiaries, now aged between 65 and 101 years, are grappling with age-related illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis, compounded by rising living costs and limited access to healthcare. The former workers said: “The consequence of this prolonged delay has been devastating.

“Many of our members are living in extreme hardship, unable to afford basic needs, including food and medical care.” They further lamented that the number of avoidable deaths among their colleagues continues to rise, describing the situation as a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent government intervention.