The unions are the National Union of Air Transport Employees
(NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria
(ATSSSAN).
The General Secretary, NUATE, Mr Ocheme Aba, made the call
during a news conference with aviation correspondents in Lagos on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aero
Contractors and Arik Air are both under the receivership of the Asset
Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
Aba pleaded with Sirika and the National Assembly to use
their good offices to save the workers of the two airlines and their families,
as well as the aviation industry from imminent disaster.
“Specifically, we call for a probe of the circumstances
surrounding the rumoured sales of the airlines to the promoters of 5A’s after
the airlines must have been forced to the ground by an artificially created
financial crumbling.
“We also call for strong and deeply reflective interface
among the Ministry of Aviation, AMCON and the legacy shareholders of Aero
Contractors and Arik Air for the purpose of knocking out a deal that could
truly rejuvenate the airlines.
“We call for a complete stoppage of further attempts to
truncate genuine revamping efforts at keeping these airlines on the part of
recovery.
“Specifically, we call for a halt of further attempts
through House of 5A’s to force any phony lease contracts down the throat of
Aero Contractors and Arik Air,” he said.
Aba urged AMCON not to allow any form of weariness stand in
the efforts to turnaround the fortunes of the two airlines.
“This requires, though, that all hands must be on deck and
working harmoniously. To this effort, we pledge our cooperation and
collaboration,” he said.
Aba urged AMCON to replace the Receiver Manager of Aero
Contractors.
He alleged that the assignment was obviously well outside
his competence, as clearly marked by his abdication of his role.
The NUATE scribe alleged that it appeared that hidden forces
were hell bent on forcing the shutdown of Aero Contractors and Arik Air.
He disclosed that over 700 direct aviation jobs would be
lost if they succeed.
Aba said the unions would have been silent on Arik Air for
now, but for the fact that the House of 5A’s lease arrangement that was chased
out of Aero had found its way into Arik Air.
He said that it was crystal clear that some forces were
toying with Aero Contractors and Arik Air.
According to him, this will translate to toying with the
lives and livelihoods of thousands of Nigerian citizens as well as the
country’s aviation ecosystem.
Aba accused the Aero Contractors of planning to reduce 40
per cent of its staff strength without talking of redundancy even as the
company was yet to complete redundancy payment of those it asked to stay home
since 2016.
He said the unions would direct all Arik workers to withdraw
all services from this aircraft if, and when, it comes to their knowledge that
indeed the same level of toxicity of Aero also applies in this case in Arik.
Reacting to the issues, the Managing Director of Aero
Contractors, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood, described the unions allegations as
unfounded.
Mahmood said that it was pure mischief that the unions kept
quite when things were rosy but came out with allegations and threats when
challenges occurred.
“All the allegations about the Managing Director of House of
5A’s and Charles Arumemi Johnson, are unfounded. Charles is a very competent
staff of Arik Air owned by AMCON, which equally owns Aero Contractors.
“Therefore, there is no conflict of interest. He is
instrumental to the recently launched Aero portal which has given the website a
face lift and more user friendly compared to the previous website.
“On the House of 5A’s, every partnership was done with the
aim of improving the revenue of the airline, particularly in relation to our
unserviceable equipment and ensuring standard customer service.
“The question is what was our revenue before, during and
after the exit of House of 5As? They should please respond.
“We are conscious of the challenges we are facing and have
been prudent with our expenses, and doing our best to take care of staff welfare,”
Mahmood said.
He urged the staff and the unions to desist support the
company to overcome its challenges.
Mahmood noted that the management decided to create the four
Strategic Business Units (SBUs): Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO), Aviation
Training Organisation (ATO), Airline Operation and Rotary Wing, to enhance
efficiency and profitability.
The managing director said whatever management decisions
were taken were usually done with the engagement of the unions.
He said it recognised the huge and massive potential of Aero
Contractors and was taking strategic steps to exploit them for the benefits of
all stakeholders.