L-R: Capt. Robert (Bob) Bione Hayes, 91, Nigeria’s first Commercial Pilot; Chief Olawale Edun, Minister of Finance & Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy; and Pa Abel Kalu Ukonu, 101, the oldest retiree alive
As over three hundred days (300 days) roll by since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, PBAT, approved the payment of the outstanding of pension and other gratuities amounted to the sum of Thirty-Six Billion, Sixty-Three Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty-Seven Naira and Ninety-One Kobo Only, {N36,063,843,537.91k} to the workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways, the hope raised by the public knowledge of Mr. President’s noble deed by the approval, has now turned to heart ache, frustration, and has also evoked life threatening effect to the concerned beneficiaries. Their emotions, psyche, and central nervous system to stimulate positive well-being, have been made very tenuous due to raised expectations and their reality turning more of a mirage than actualised, dashed hopes.
It is a self-evident truth that these senior citizens have been battered by over two decades of denial despite the socio-economic pressures every Nigerians have been subjected to in recent years. What they look forward to as succour to the nation’s currency devaluation, and by the source of the promise, now from the number one citizen, is that 300 days have passed yet, and it is the only hope they have to cling to.
Investigation has revealed that the lingering expectation which started in July 2025, has psychologically further pummeled these senior citizens by the expectation which is yet to actualize ten months later.
The implication of the hope that was renewed by the president’s directive that the outstanding debt be paid but which its actualization is experiencing protracted delay, has made many hearts sick, says the holy book. {Proverbs 13:12 -: Expectation postponed makes the heart sick, But a desire realised is a tree of life NW} A cursory look at the prevailing condition of things now is akin to a conspiracy of governmental authorities, government institutions, agencies and high placed individuals have informally conspired to ensure these retirees starve to their graves.
The average age of the people whose gratuities and pensions, though statutory, are being owed is 70 years. While the majority are octogenarians, 80-90 years of age. The slightest delay to honour pecuniary reward due these group of senior citizens for serving their father land at the prime of their lives can only be described as callous on the part of individuals or government agencies concerned with the payment.
Curious if there were any concrete steps taken since the directive for payment was issued by President Tinubu, the Nigeria Transport Hub, NTH, reached out to Capt Shuaibu Alfa, President of Aviation Unions Grand Alliance, AUGA.
Capt Alfa opened the discussion with profuse praises to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, PBAT, for his approval and directive that the outstanding sum of N36,063,843,537.91k be paid. As the next question about the disposition of the Aviation and Aerospace Development Ministry to the matter, Capt Alfa plunged into effusive encomium to Barr Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation.
According to Capt Alfa, President of AUGA, the alliance’s leadership swung into action as soon as the news broke that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, PBAT, had approved the payment of the outstanding gratuity of the retirees.
He reached for his diary and reeled off efforts by the leadership of the Aviation Union Grand Alliance, AUGA, to make payment easier for both the government and the retirees.
Capt Alfa reiterated that;
10th of June 2025: The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Chief Wale Edun, conveyed to the Aviation minister, President Tinubu’s approval for the payment of the sum of N36,063,843,537.91k to the Nigeria Airways retirees.
The Aviation Ministry was directed to supply the details of the retirees qualified to benefit from the payment as directed by the Presidency.
24th July 2025: The Aviation Minister revert to the Finance Minister with details of retirees pencilled as would-be beneficiaries of the balance of the retirees’ gratuities.
20th August 2025: A highly powered meeting was held between the representatives of the retirees, the aviation unions, AUGA; representatives of the Aviation Ministry and the Ministry of Finance. The meeting was presided over by a Permanent Secretary (PS) in charge of Special Duties, representing the Finance Minister.
RESOLUTION AT THE MEETING
The meeting resolved that the payment should be staggered to allow for proper documentation, reconciliation, and sufficient time for the Accountant General’s Office to tidy up disbursements, and to ensure that probable hiccups from the banks’ end are given sufficient time to resolve complaints on failed transactions and the like.
Hence, the meeting of 20th August 2025 agreed that:
Payment in compliance with Mr President’s directive would start in October 2025. The second batch was scheduled for December 2025, while the third, which was supposed to be the last batch, was scheduled for February 2026.
It is very, very sad and appalling to note that the arrangement at this very high level of government business fell woefully flat. It is yet to be resuscitated as the first anniversary of the directive for payment to be made rented the news media is about two months away.
GLIMPSE INTO PERSONALITIES RECEIVING A RAW DEAL FOR 22 YEARS
Recall that those affected by delayed entitlement payment were more than 6000 in number at the beginning, 22 years ago. Statistics from the unions end revealed that over 500 members have died to date. Among those alive are those infirm, weak from old age, aged from economic hardship, others battling perennial ailments, and others facing other social challenges.
However, there are still a lot of this group who still contribute their quota to aviation despite these inanities and indignation.
Sample Profile from Among WT Retirees Being Subjected to Indignation
Capt Prekeme Porbeni started his carrier in aviation from a humble beginning and rose to become the Flight Operations Director of Nigeria Airways.
Another striking fact is that Capt Porbeni retired from the service of Nigeria Airways more than two years before its liquidation by the federal government headed by President Olusegun Obasanjo. The waiting game that started about 23 years ago is yet to abate despite its catastrophe consequences to the retirees.
Below is an excerpt from the chat;
NTH: Good day, sir, we noticed that you were recognised on the 1st of November 2025, as a notable contributor to the progress of aviation in Nigeria during the 100 years of aviation celebration in Nigeria by the federal Government. Can we have some of your experiences in those glorious years?
Capt Prex: Thank you Akin for that question. I started my aviation career as an Air Traffic Controller Assistant in 1964 at what we now know as the Nigeria Airspace Management Authority, NAMA. While cutting my teeth in aviation via exposure to air traffic control, I worked with notable personalities such as Chief Deru, Chief Ogunbiyi, Chief Olaniyan, Chief Najomo (the father of the present Director General Civil Aviation, DGCA, of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA), Major Amaku, Chief Eddie Kofon, Mr and Mrs Ijomanta.
NTH: But we know you as a Pilot. A Captain. Where did you train as a pilot?
Capt Prex: I left the country for Canada in search of my proverbial Golden Fleece in 1968. I returned in 1972 with a Commercial Pilot License, CPL, and joined the Nigeria Airways as a Second Officer.
NTH: On arrival did you mount the Cockpit instantaneously as First Officer?
Capt Prex: No. I then got type-rated and flew seven (7) different types of aircraft operated by Nigeria Airways. I also was selected to fly in the federal flight unit now known as the Presidential Flight Unit. I simultaneously flew Nigeria Airways and the presidential aircraft for quite a few years on diplomatic trips flying five presidents and numerous dignitaries around the world.
NTH: So the liquidation of Nigeria Airways brought forced retirement on you?
Capt Prex: No. I retired on the 5th of July 1999. The liquidation came in 2022. Anyhow and unfortunately the sad part began. You see, after such long meritorious service to my country, I am yet to receive my final entitlements.
NTH: As enlightened senior citizen with orientation from advanced society, how will you place the endless waiting game for your pension which is statutory?
Capt Prex: Even if this protracted delay is an error, 24 years is more than enough time to correct it. If it was not an error, there must be extremely mischievous people holding positions in the civil service of our beloved country.
NTH: How do you mean?
Capt Prex: The entire scenario would have been better as a Nollywood drama than a reality of life to live with in this age and time. This is amplified by the fact that the President has expressly approved and signed the payment to be made. The Ministry of Finance received the needed instructions and forwarded same to the Aviation ministry requesting for the details of the entitlements. The Aviation Ministry did return the details to the Ministry of Finance as requested. All these happened since July of 2025 yet, the entitled (payment) are still waiting and people are dying while government withhold entitlements that it ought to have paid 23 years ago.
NTH: As an octogenarian, how can you put this bureaucracy bottleneck in proper perspectives considering those involved in this ding dong affair?
Capt Prex: There indeed are functionaries able and ready to defy even the sitting President. Though the buck here stops at the minister’s desk. It must be noted that the civil servants represented by the Permanent Secretary guide and control whatever he does.
NTH: Since there is no controversy about the payment approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, PBAT, who is culpable now?
Capt Prex: It can be said that nothing good or bad can happen in governance from the presidency through legislature and judiciary without the consent or encouragement of the civil servants.
Capt Prekeme Porbeni’s Profile was distilled from a personality interview (a chat) with the octogenarian.
About Post Author
Thanks to this editor and the staff that conducted the interview, facts are facts and can not be hidden. The courage that our captain had is appreciated for speaking out.
The Media had a lot to do in other to help the beneficiaries. Please do us a favor by doing a follow up with the ministries involve and the presidency.
God bless your News paper, God bless Nigeria.
I have as at Friday, 27 th Match 2026, advised our Prayer Worriors to obtain permission from the DPO of any police department near the prayer center, invite few pressmen to the site and display placards expressing our fate and demand for immediate release of our money to us.
And this must be done peacefully.