The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Tolulope Odunaiya, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, met with representatives of the Association of Airways Retired Workers of Nigeria (AARWN) to address pension concerns affecting retirees of the defunct Nigerian Airways.
The meeting focused on the proposed onboarding of Nigerian Airways pensioners onto the pension payroll. In attendance were the Chairman of AARWN, Mr. Onuh Stephen, and Mr. Ahmed Sulu Gambari, who spoke on behalf of the retired workers.
Responding to the issues raised, Odunaiya acknowledged the challenges faced by the pensioners and expressed empathy with the affected retirees. She reaffirmed PTAD’s commitment to the welfare and dignity of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, saying the Directorate remains attentive to concerns raised.
However, the Executive Secretary clarified the limits of PTAD’s authority. She said the Directorate operates strictly within its statutory mandate and “does not possess the authority to verify or onboard pensioners without formal directives from the appropriate authorities.”
She further explained that, due to statutory limitations on onboarding new pensioners, it is advisable for the association to continue engagement with relevant authorities to secure approval for onboarding eligible members onto the pension payroll. She urged patience while engagements with authorities continue ongoing.
