FG accuses Atiku of hypocrisy over Nigeria Airways liquidation
Festus Keyamo
Abdullateef Fowewe
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of hypocrisy for highlighting economic hardships while his administration liquidated Nigeria Airways more than two decades ago without fully settling workers’ benefits.
Responding on X to Atiku’s post that described widespread struggles with food prices, pensions, transport costs and insecurity, Keyamo wrote, “Your Excellency, Atiku Abubakar @atiku, this is hypocrisy at its peak! Let me just talk only about the sector that I head, Aviation.”
He recalled that in September 2004, while Atiku served as vice president, the government liquidated Nigeria Airways, “throwing thousands of Nigerian out of jobs and into sorrow and pain.”
Keyamo added that the workers were denied their pensions and gratuities “running into billions of Naira.”
“Twenty-two years later, after many of them have died out of frustration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now clearing the mess you left behind,” Keyamo stated.
“Over a month ago, Mr. President approved and released the total sum N36 billion to bring succour to these families. They have started receiving alerts and praying for Mr. President. In fact, the President was given an Award for this by the workers’ union a few weeks ago.”
Keyamo further accused Atiku of selective claims about the Obasanjo-Atiku era and described his posturing as that of a “con artist,” arguing that only younger Nigerians unfamiliar with the history could be misled.
Nigeria Airways, the country’s former national carrier, was liquidated in 2004 under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, in which Atiku Abubakar served as vice president from 1999 to 2007.
The decision left thousands of staff without complete severance packages and pensions.
Successive governments made partial payments over the years, but a significant outstanding balance remained.
In 2025, President Bola Tinubu approved the final settlement of the outstanding entitlements, reported at around N36 billion.
By September 2026, the Federal Government confirmed it had begun disbursing N18 billion to 2,700 former workers, with additional batches in process.
Aviation unions and retirees had long campaigned for the full payment, citing the hardship faced by ageing ex-employees and the families of those who died while waiting.
