By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has dismissed reports alleging that more than 1,000 of its retirees are owed pension entitlements, describing the claims as misleading and inconsistent with the facts of its pension administration processes.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr. Abdullahi Musa, the agency said a recent publication titled “Unpaid Pension: Over 1,000 NAMA Retirees Seek FG’s Intervention”, failed to provide the necessary legal and administrative context, thereby creating a false impression that the agency had neglected its obligations to retirees.
Dr. Musa stated that since the assumption of office of NAMA’s Managing Director, Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, retiree welfare has remained a top priority. According to him, the agency commissioned a comprehensive actuarial assessment to determine pension adjustments for the years 2007, 2010, 2019 and 2024.
He noted that the assessment had been successfully concluded and that implementation of the report was already underway through established administrative procedures.
The spokesperson further explained that NAMA has maintained regular consultations and engagements with representatives of retirees to address pension-related concerns. He disclosed that during a meeting held on June 10, 2026, both parties agreed that clarification should be sought from the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) on certain technical issues requiring regulatory interpretation.
According to him, the agency promptly forwarded the necessary correspondence to PENCOM and is currently awaiting an official response.
Dr. Musa also stated that accrued pension rights for employees who migrated from the Defined Benefit Scheme to the Contributory Pension Scheme in June 2004 had been fully settled in line with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act. He explained that the funds were transferred directly into the Retirement Savings Accounts of affected workers, who continue to receive monthly benefits through their Pension Fund Administrators and annuity providers.
“The assertion that over one thousand retirees remain unpaid is therefore not supported by the facts available to the agency,” he said.
NAMA warned that inaccurate reporting on pension matters could generate unnecessary anxiety among retirees, damage the agency’s reputation and undermine ongoing efforts aimed at resolving outstanding issues through lawful and constructive engagement.
The agency consequently demanded an immediate retraction of the publication and a public apology from the newspaper involved, insisting that the report contained misleading information capable of tarnishing the image of a law-abiding institution.
Dr. Musa reaffirmed NAMA’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the welfare of its retirees, adding that the agency would continue to work with PENCOM and legitimate retiree representatives to ensure that all pension matters are addressed fairly, lawfully and sustainably.
