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NAMA pensioners allege that outstanding pension increases and arrears remain unpaid despite the reported release of ₦2.5bn in April 2026.
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The Contributory Pensioners Union of Nigeria, NAMA Branch, demands payment by October-end and threatens a protest.
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The union says the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission completed the computation of the arrears and submitted them to the agency.
October 28, (THEWILL) – Retirees of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency have threatened to protest over unpaid pension increases and arrears, alleging that the agency has failed to disburse their entitlements despite the reported release of ₦2.5bn for the purpose in April 2026.
The Contributory Pensioners Union of Nigeria, NAMA Branch, said it would proceed with its planned protest unless the agency met with its representatives and committed to paying the outstanding benefits before the end of October.
In a message to pensioners, the branch secretary, Lawal Wasiu, said the union rejected a meeting proposed by NAMA management for November 3, insisting that the discussions should take place by October 21.
Wasiu alleged that the agency responded to the union’s planned industrial action with a letter dated October 19, which he said was addressed to NAMA’s contributory pension scheme retirees rather than the union he described as their recognised representative.
“The purported letter was rejected,” he said.
The union accused NAMA management of failing to communicate with it since a meeting held on June 10, 2026, while continuing to engage with an elders’ forum.
The agency’s response to the allegations was not included in the information provided.
Pensioners question ₦2.5bn release
The union’s central concern is the whereabouts of the ₦2.5bn reportedly released for the pensioners in April, with Wasiu questioning why the money had not translated into payments nearly six months later.
“What happened to the N2.5bn that was released on our behalf in April 2026 about six months ago?” he asked.
In a letter dated October 12, 2026, addressed to NAMA’s managing director and chief executive, the union demanded the immediate payment of pension increases and outstanding arrears.
The letter stated that the benefits had remained outstanding for more than two decades.
According to the union, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission had completed the computation of the applicable pension adjustments and arrears and submitted them to NAMA for implementation.
The union also said many affected pensioners were above 70 years old, with some having retired in 2008 or earlier.
It added that several retirees depended on their pensions to pay for food, accommodation and medical care, while some had died before receiving the outstanding benefits.
The union called on NAMA to implement the increased pensions, clear the arrears and provide a definite timetable for disbursement.
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Protest planned over delayed payments
Wasiu said the retirees could not afford to wait until November for a meeting, particularly as serving and contract staff were reportedly receiving October salaries and other payments.
He contrasted the payments to serving personnel with what he described as the inadequate pensions received by retirees who had gone more than a decade without corresponding increases.
The union said it wanted NAMA to meet with its representatives by October 21 and settle the arrears before the end of the month.
It warned that failure to do so would lead to further action, including drawing the attention of the Presidency and the wider public to the dispute.
Wasiu also urged pensioners at other NAMA stations to join the planned protest, scheduled for 11 am on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
The union’s October 12 letter was copied to the Director-General of the National Pension Commission, the chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the president of the Contributory Pensioners Union of Nigeria.
The dispute centres on the implementation of pension adjustments that the union says have already been computed.
Resolving it will require clarity on the status of the reported ₦2.5bn release, the amount outstanding to eligible retirees and the timetable for payment.
For the pensioners, the immediate demand is for NAMA to move beyond proposed meetings and provide a clear commitment to settling the arrears.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
