Over 300 former NICON Airways workers remain unpaid 19 years after court orders, coalition says
A coalition of more than 150 civil society organisations and advocacy groups has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, requesting an urgent review of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s appointment as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The groups, which include Accountability Lab Nigeria, CLEEN Foundation, Yiaga Africa, the Nigerian Feminist Forum, and Women Radio 91.7, among dozens of others, cite unresolved legal judgments, ongoing court proceedings, and documented financial obligations as matters of public record that raise “significant national and international consequences.”
Unpaid workers, mounting debts
In the letter dated April 2026, the coalition cites a 2013 judgment of the National Industrial Court awarding N1.5 billion to over 300 former employees of NICON Airways. The Court of Appeal upheld the ruling in 2017, stating that it “cannot be used as an engine of fraud.” According to the groups, salary arrears and pension obligations remain outstanding nearly two decades after the workers were first owed, dating back to May 2007.
Separately, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) obtained orders from the Federal High Court in Lagos relating to debts reportedly amounting to N69.4 billion. Subsequent appeals were dismissed in 2021, yet public disclosures indicate ongoing challenges to recovery, the letter states.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (now the Nigeria Revenue Service) has also lodged a 10-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja concerning alleged tax liabilities linked to Air Nigeria — proceedings that remain ongoing before the court.
Diplomatic credibility at stake
The coalition warns that Senator Ibrahim’s position as Nigeria’s voice within the multilateral system carries implications far beyond domestic politics.
“Diplomatic appointments are instruments of state. They signal a country’s commitment to the rule of law, institutional integrity, and governance standards,” the letter reads. “Nigeria’s Permanent Representative engages with governments, multilateral institutions, and the global public. In that context, publicly documented legal and financial matters may attract scrutiny and raise questions about consistency in the application of domestic laws and standards.”
The groups also emphasise domestic consequences: “Citizens directly affected by unresolved court judgments, including workers and taxpayers, may reasonably question the effectiveness of legal remedies where such issues remain outstanding alongside high-level public appointments.”
Policy frameworks invoked
The letter states that Nigeria has adopted the National Ethics and Integrity Policy and the National Values Charter — frameworks that emphasise integrity, accountability, transparency, and personal responsibility in public service.
“Any perceived divergence between policy commitments and public appointments may affect the credibility of these frameworks,” the coalition writes.
Demands for review and clarification
The groups are requesting four specific actions:
A review of Senator Ibrahim’s appointment, considering existing legal proceedings, court judgments, and financial obligations on record.
Public clarification from relevant authorities on the status of ongoing cases and enforcement actions.
Clarity on the standards and due diligence processes applied in vetting senior diplomatic appointments
Assurance that appointments to international representation positions are consistent with Nigeria’s rule of law commitments
The coalition also drew the UN Secretariat’s attention to “the importance of due diligence in accreditation processes.”
A test of institutional coherence
The letter concludes that the issue “extends beyond a single appointment” to the coherence between Nigeria’s legal processes, governance frameworks, and the standards applied in public service.
“Nigeria’s credibility, both domestically and internationally, is strengthened when institutions demonstrate consistency, transparency, and adherence to due process,” the groups wrote. “Upholding these principles in high-level appointments is essential to maintaining public trust and international confidence.”
Neither the Presidency nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had responded to the letter as of press time. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim could not be immediately reached for comment.
*This story is based on an open letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, signed by over 150 civil society organisations and made available to this publication.*
