Aviation unions threaten to stop Nigeria Air from launching unless Nigerian Airways staff are paid

PROPOSED new national carrier Nigeria Air faces the threat of not getting off the ground after the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (Atsssan) threatened to shut all airports across the country to prevent its launch unless workers from the defunct Nigerian Airways were paid their entitlements.

Due to launch in December, Nigeria Air will fly to 80 different destinations and will have a fleet of 30 aircraft once it becomes operational. It will be the first national carrier since Nigeria Airways collapsed in 2003, with successor Air Nigeria, founded as a joint venture with Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, folding in 2012, leaving the country without a national airline.

Atsssan's national executive council met this week and threatened to shut down activities at airports across the country if the federal government fails to settle all labour issues including the payment of the defunct Nigeria Airways workers’ severance package before going ahead with the planned establishment of Nigeria Air. Similarly, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (Nuate) says there will be no national carrier unless the entitlements of the ex-workers of the defunct airline are paid.

According to Atsssan, over 960 Nigeria Airways workers had died in very avoidable health conditions while waiting for their entitlements. A communiqué, which signed by its president Ahmadu Ilitrus, and deputy general secretary Frances Akinjole, read: “We lament the failure of the federal government to settle the outstanding entitlements of ex-workers of Nigeria Airways several years after the airline was liquidated.

“Our NEC appreciates the selfless efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari, who finally gave approval for the payment of N45bn towards the settlement of the entitlements sometimes last year, yet condemns the non-payment as of date. We have resolved that the issue of payment of the severance benefits of ex-Nigeria Airways workers must be resolved immediately in order to forestall brewing labour issues that could affect, in the negative, the prospects of the recently unveiled Nigeria Air by the federal government.”

Furthermore, the association warned that if the federal government failed to pay the workers their entitlements, it would not guarantee any place for the new airline in the industry. Naute general secretary Olayinka Abioye, also warned that there would be no national carrier if former Nigeria Airways workers’ entitlements were not paid.

He added: “The three unions, Nuate, Atsssan and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, are working together to ensure this money is paid to the ex-Nigerian Airways workers. Three weeks ago, we sent a letter to President Buhari, urging him to look at the issue again because there have been some misconceptions arising from the initial approval given more than one year ago for the payment.

"As it is, we do not know what is happening but we know there cannot be a national carrier except the money is paid."