The Federal Government has disbursed ₦4.25 billion in outstanding pension and severance benefits to another 600 beneficiaries of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited, bringing the total number of former workers covered by the payment exercise to 3,300.
The latest disbursement covers Batches 010 and 011 and extends the settlement of outstanding entitlements owed to former employees of the national carrier, which was liquidated in 2003.
The Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed the payment in a statement on Monday, October 19, 2026, which was reported by PUNCH on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
The ministry said the latest payment amounted to ₦4,251,043,000.19 in gross benefits. After deductions of ₦212,552,150.01, the net amount released for payment stood at ₦4,038,490,850.18.
The gross amount translates to an average of approximately ₦7.09 million per beneficiary, although individual payments vary according to approved entitlements.
The latest disbursement follows the ₦18 billion payment announced in September 2026 for 2,700 former Nigeria Airways workers covered by the first nine batches.
With the additional 600 beneficiaries, the total number of former workers covered across 11 batches has risen to 3,300.
The ministry said the payments form part of the government’s efforts to settle longstanding financial obligations to eligible former employees and their families.
It added that payments are being processed in batches following verification of beneficiaries’ employment records and claims to ensure that approved entitlements reach the rightful recipients.
The ministry also said its verification and validation exercise for the next of kin of deceased former Nigeria Airways workers was ongoing. The exercise is intended to establish eligibility and confirm claims against approved records before outstanding benefits are paid.
The latest payment represents another step in the government’s efforts to address liabilities inherited from the former national carrier, whose unresolved employee entitlements have remained outstanding for years.
However, the ministry has not provided a comprehensive breakdown of all remaining unpaid claims or stated when the settlement exercise will be completed.
