The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has told that payment of severance package to former Airways staff should precede the takeoff of the new national carrier – Nigeria Air.
The aviation union said it could not guarantee the take off of the carrier unless the severance entitlements of ex- workers of Nigeria Airways Limited are paid.
Rising from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja , ATSSSAN said it would mobilise against the project until the Federal Government releases the N45 billion meant for the payment of ex- workers and pensioners of the liquidated former national carrier.
This is just as it said Federal Government’s planned concession of four major international airports will compromise safety, increase charges as well as increase liabilities.
ATSSSAN insisted that it is not in support of the move and cannot guaranty peace if the plan is foisted on Nigerians.
The group in a communique signed by its Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Frances Akinjole and National President, Comrade Ahmadu Ilitrus, lamented that 960 of the ex-workers had died in pursuit of their entitlements despite its approval by the president.
The communique read in part: “NEC-in-session laments the failure of the Federal Government to settle the outstanding entitlements of ex-workers of Nigeria Airways several years after the Airline was liquidated. The NEC appreciated the selfless efforts of President Mohammadu Buhari, who finally gave approval for the payment of Forty-Five (45) Billion naira towards the settlement of the entitlements sometimes last year, yet condemns the non-payment as at date.
“The NEC 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 of Nigeria. ATSSSAN NEC warns that if Government does not pay Nigeria Airways workers their hard-earned entitlements, it will not guarantee any place for the new airline in the industry.
“The NEC commiserates with the families of the over 960 Nigeria Airways workers who died in very avoidable health conditions while waiting for their entitlement and wish the souls of the departed workers a peaceful rest and the family they left behind the gratitude to carry on the struggle.”
On the brewing crisis over airports concession, the union insisted that concessioning the mainstay of airports will adversely affect the others which are sustained by the major four airports. This may also lead to the crippling of the Federal Airport authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as an agency.
The Federal Government, through the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had insisted that there was no going back on the concession of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA Lagos, Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja, Port Harcourt Airport and Aminu Kano Airport, Kano), operated by FAAN.
The association insisted that if government goes ahead with the plans without handling all pending labour issues including workers’ entitlements and pension rights, ATSSSAN shall not guarantee industry harmony at the nation’s airport airports.
A communique further reads: “ The four airports are the main sources of FAAN revenue. NEC fears that if the government succeeds with the concession of the airports, the entire operations of FAAN will collapse, as all other airports operated by FAAN are maintained or supplemented with revenue generated from the four referenced airports.
“FAAN has huge pension liabilities and will not be able to settle its pension obligations to retirees,” it said.