The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA) has refuted a story in a publication in a national daily on June 17, 2026, titled “Unpaid Pension: Over 1,000 NAMA Retirees Seek FG’s Intervention,”.

In a press release signed by Dr.Abdullahi Musa,Director Public Affairs and Consumer Protection,the Agency indicated that the publication presents a narrative that is not only misleading but also fundamentally detached from the verifiable realities of pension administration within the Nigerian Airspace

Management Agency (NAMA).

It stated that while public scrutiny remains an indispensable pillar of democratic accountability, such scrutiny must be anchored on facts, context, and legal accuracy rather than sensationalism.

By presenting allegations without adequate verification and failing to provide the necessary legal and administrative context, the report creates a misleading narrative to the effect that the agency is unwilling to meet its obligations to retirees, a characterization that is demonstrably false.

According to NAMA,sincei assumption of office by the current Managing Director, Engr Farouk Ahmed Umar and management team, retiree welfare has remained a major priority.

In a clear demonstration of this commitment, the agency commissioned a comprehensive actuarial assessment to determine pension adjustments for the years 2007, 2010, 2019, and 2024.

The exercise has been successfully concluded, and the report is currently being implemented through established administrative processes. Such proactive measures hardly reflect the conduct of an institution accused of neglecting its pensioners.

Furthermore, NAMA has consistently maintained open channels of communication with retiree representatives through regular consultations and stakeholder engagements.

At the most recent meeting held on June 10, 2026, both management and retiree representatives jointly agreed that clarification should be sought from the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) regarding certain technical issues requiring regulatory interpretation

In keeping with its culture of transparency and due process, NAMA immediately forwarded the necessary correspondence to PENCOM and is awaiting an official response.

It is equally important to state that accrued pension rights relating to officers who migrated from the Defined Benefit Scheme to the Contributory Pension Scheme in June 2004 have been fully settled in accordance with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act.

These funds were transferred directly into the respective Retirement Savings Accounts of affected employees, who continue to receive their 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.

Beyond the inaccuracies contained in the publication, the broader implication of such reporting is that it has the potential to create unnecessary anxiety among retirees, damage institutional credibility, and undermine ongoing efforts aimed at constructive resolution of pension-related matters.

In view of these facts, NAMA is justified in demanding an immediate and unequivocal retraction of the said publication, together with a prominent public apology from the management of the Newspaper for disseminating misleading information capable of misleading the public and tarnishing the reputation of a law-abiding institution. The newspaper owes both NAMA and the general public a duty to correct the record.

NAMA remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the welfare of its retirees. It will continue to engage constructively with PENCOM and legitimate retiree representatives to ensure that all pension matters are addressed lawfully, fairly, and sustainably.