Management crisis at the Aero Contractors, one of the oldest Nigerian carriers is yet to abate as labour unions in the aviation sector staged another protest on Monday, insisting that Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) which is now managing the airline must safe it from going under.
The unions predicted that the airline is obviously in financial distress and might shut down operations in the next two months if AMCON does not inject new funds and install efficient and transparent management.
President of the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN), Benjamin Okewu said Aero Contractors might soon be out of business following unsettled labour issues and financial misappropriation by its management.
The crisis has almost crippled the operations of Aero Contractors as labour unions in the aviation sector have vowed not to leave any stone unturned to ensure that all labour related matters were resolved without victimisation of any worker to ensure the survival of the airline.
Few weeks ago, two aviation unions, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria staged a peaceful protest to the headquarters of Aero Contractors over management’s handling of labour issues, especially welfare of workers.
Aero management was said to have queried the labour leaders who it accused of divulging senstitive information to the unions.
THISDAY gathered that the two union leader who are branch chairmen of National Union of Air Transport Employees and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, were early last month queried by the management of Aero Contractors for organising a rally and inviting the media for coverage.
But the labour leaders threatened a showdown with the management of Aero over recent developments in the company.
Okewu told journalists Monday that it was unacceptable for the management of the airline to cover up their misdeeds by killing Aero Contractors, insisting that the unions would not allow the airline to go under, adding that every money spent must be accounted for by the management.
Okewu said it was not in the interest of the organisation to sack the unions’ branch chairmen, noting that the unions had called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to come in and investigate the activities of the airline.
“We discovered from our investigation that aircraft engine which ought to have been leased for $40,000 elsewhere were being leased by Aero Contractors for $70,000. A lot of fraudulent activities took place,” Okewu said.
According to him, the unions can no longer condole the issue any more as Aero Contractors has the potential of becoming the best airline in the country with dedicated workforce but the fraudulent activities of the Aero management has grounded the airline to this extent, adding that they would not see the airline turned into carcass before acting.
Meanwhile, Aero management has confirmed that
It queried the two unions’ chairmen for divulging sensitive company information to the media and portraying the company in bad light.
The company also confirmed it has reported the two unions to the Labour and Productivity Ministry, copying the Aviation Ministry, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and State Security Service.
