By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
The management of Arik Air has given reasons why it sacked 300 workers from the company’s workforce.
The management in a press statement released on Friday, said it took the measure due to the biting effect of Covid-19 pandemic on its operations as the airline industry is among the worst-hit.
In September, The New Diplomat reported that aviation unions namely the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), shut down operations of Arik Air over alleged non-payment of staff salaries since April after placing 90% of their workforce on compulsory leave.
The unions said the strike would continue indefinitely, until their demands were met by the management of Arik Air.
The management then sought the intervention of the Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, over the planned industrial action by unions scheduled to commence on Sept 14.
However, as a result of the easing of the curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government, the airline announced the resumption of flight operations in and out of Lagos from Oct. 24.
In a statement titled ‘Arik Air management declares 300 staff redundant’, the company explained that a redundancy package for the affected staff is being worked with the involvement of the aviation union.
The statement read in part, “Arising from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the constrained ability of the airline to complete heavy maintenance activities and return its planes to operations, stunted revenues against increasing operational costs, the management of Arik Air (In Receivership) has declared 300 staff members redundant to its current level of operations.
“The leadership of the impacted unions has been contacted to negotiate a redundancy package for the affected staff.”
The airline also stated that more than half of its workforce of over 1,600 staff have been on furlough in the past six months.
Meanwhile, the organization’s Public Relations and Communications Manager, Mr Adebanji Ola apologized to passengers whose travel plans were disrupted by the protest carried out by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Dec 3, 2020.
He said, the industrial action disrupted operations in Lagos and prevented the airline from processing passengers at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic Terminal 1 and 2.
