Retired workers of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency have renewed calls for the government to fulfill its promise to adjust their pensions, which they say have remained stagnant since 2007.
Despite several directives from relevant regulatory authorities, the retirees allege that NAMA has continuously failed to implement the mandated pension adjustments, an omission that has plunged many into financial hardship.
Speaking anonymously with The PUNCH, one of the retirees, who served as a maintenance engineer for nearly 30 years, emphasized the crucial role he and his colleagues played in keeping Nigeria’s aviation systems functional.
“I was a maintenance engineer. All the planes flying now and the equipment they are using, we are the ones servicing it. Okay. We are the ones responsible for the purchase. When you hear that plane can land night and day, even in bad weather, it is our equipment. So, we are the core of the aviation,” he said.
He expressed deep frustration over the prolonged neglect, describing the hardship many of his peers now face.
“The government should intervene and get our rights paid to us. Many of us are dying of hunger. Many have even died. They should not forget us and see that our right is paid to us within a short period after this,” he pleaded.
While acknowledging that their initial pensions were paid, the retiree insisted that the overdue increment—mandated by the government—has yet to be implemented.
“Our accrued pension was paid. We are now asking for the increment. The government ordered them. So a pension was paid to our Pension Fund Administration. And the government now said every five years. These things should be paid to us to make our pension even more meaningful. Right from that time till now, it’s the one naira I’ve been receiving till now,” he explained.
He accused NAMA of outrightly ignoring lawful directives and violating retirees’ rights.
“They are denying us our rights. Which government has even stated, not like we are begging them. It’s our right. When we wrote to them, they said we don’t deserve anything from them,” he lamented.
Another retired official, Stephen, who once served as Director of Air Traffic Services, shared additional details surrounding the pension controversy. He pointed out that NAMA failed to calculate and disclose the required pension figures, thus stalling any adjustments.
“Our public servant is in Nigeria. We retired in 2004 due to the Pension Reform Act. NAMA is a self-funded agency. And by 2007, when the thing commenced, we ought to have calculated the accrued pension, the monthly pension, for the pensioners that were retired before the contribution pension. So, NAMA never disclosed accrued pensions,” he stated.
Stephen revealed that NAMA had persistently ignored communications from PENCOM and failed to act on repeated calls to review the pension structure.
“They didn’t increase any pension since 2007. When the pension was supposed to be increased. So, you have several circulars to that. And PENCOM wrote to NAMA several times to increase the pension, pay the pension, and increase the pension of the employees. But NAMA did not respond positively,” he explained.
He cited a specific correspondence dated April 23, 2015, in which PENCOM reminded NAMA of its statutory obligation to adjust pensions in accordance with constitutional provisions.
“Section 15(4) of the Pension Reform Act 2014 requires that the accrued pension rights and entitlements of the Public Service of the Federation shall be reviewed by the Federal Government of Nigeria from time to time in line with the provisions of Section 173 of the constitution as amended,” the letter read.
“Please note that all increases due to the affected employees/ex-employees arising from the review shall be remitted directly into the beneficiary’s Retirement Savings Account as required by Section 15(4) of the PRA 2014. The increase shall form part of the balance of the employee’s RSA that shall be accessed on retirement,” it added.
Despite such binding regulations, Stephen maintained that NAMA has refused to honor its obligation.
“NAMA never responded. And then there are some other letters, even the ones they wrote to the Federal Monetary Foundation, claiming that they are not owing the retirees, but that is not true. We have debunked that,” he said.
As frustration mounts, the retirees continue to appeal to the federal government to urgently intervene and ensure that justice is served.
