2-IN-1 STORY: Drama As Workers Occupy Aero Contractors’ Office; Why Aero Suspended Scheduled Operations — NCAA

Copyright: ©Radim Kobližka

Aviation unions’ members have occupied the head office of Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s oldest airline, which announced indefinite suspension of scheduled operations.

Daily Trust report continues:
The airline’s office at the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, was occupied by members of Air Traffic Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) to protest indefinite leave given to over 1,400 workers of the airline.
The airline’s office at the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, was occupied by members of Air Traffic Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) to protest indefinite leave given to over 1,400 workers of the airline.

The unions said they were neither informed nor carried along in the decision of the management to suspend operations.

They said the workers are being owed two months’ salaries and have not been paid severance allowance.

After months of epileptic services, Aero Contractors suspended scheduled services on Wednesday and ordered their staff to proceed on indefinite leave.

Members of the unions were seen in front of the office singing solidarity songs while workers of Aero Contractors who did night duty were locked inside. 

ATSSAN President, Comrade Benjamin Okewu, said what Aero management did by locking out the workers was shocking.

He said negotiation was still ongoing when Aero took its unilateral decision.

He stated that some workers who were on night duty were locked in, pointing to the chairman of ATSSAN in Aero Contractors and other workers who were inside.

Acting Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, told Daily Trust that Aero had not paid its workers salary.

“As I speak with you, the Aero Management is owing workers two months of unpaid salaries. It is as bad as that,” he said.

“The workers have resolved that if care is not taken, they would go and lie down on the tarmac. If Aero plane wants to kill them, they are ready because there is no way that somebody would have worked for a company for 22 years and you are asking him to go home without a dime”.

When contacted, a spokesman of the airline, Mr. Simon Tumba, confirmed that the management is actually owing the workers two months’ salary, adding “I have not been briefed on when the money would be paid”.

Why Aero Suspended Scheduled Operations — NCAA

Daily Trust reports that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has dismissed sundry claims that some Airlines are winding down their operations.

On the contrary, these airlines are merely suspending their operations temporarily to enable them undertake certain operational overhaul and strengthen their overall operational outlay, the Director- General, Capt. Muhtar Usman has observed.

He said in a statement against the backdrop of the decision by AeroContractors to suspend scheduled services.

Usman explained that the airline at present has only one serviceable aircraft which is in contradiction to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARS) which stipulates that no airline operator shall carry out scheduled commercial operation with only one aircraft.

The minimum acceptable number is three aircraft, he said.

“In other words, any airline with one aircraft is in contravention of the Authority’s regulations therefore cannot be adjudged to be capable of providing safe operation.

“The only option available is to suspend your operations temporarily while other aircraft arrive in due course.

“However, NCAA’s Regulations provides a window for such operator to embark on non-schedule operations in the interim”, the DG said.

He added that another indigenous carriers, First Nation Airlines is in the middle of an Engine Replacement Programme for one of its aircraft while another aircraft is due for mandatory maintenance “as it is allowable by the Regulatory Authority”.

The DG added, “In these circumstances, these airlines clearly cannot continue to undertake schedule operations, hence the inevitable recourse to self-regulatory suspension.

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) wishes to reiterate that on no account will it compromise safety and security of airline operations in the airspace.

“Every facet of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) and Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) must be adhered to with due diligence. In addition, everything has been put in place to continue our oversight to ensure compliance”.