THE controversial liquidation of the country’s former national carrier, Nigeria Airways has continued to hunt the various governments including the present one following what stakeholders described as unpopular policy.
Despite the unpopular decision of the then government of President Olusegun Obasanjo to approve the liquidation, eighteen years after the development coupled with the subsequent failure of the liquidation and the sale of the defunct national carrier, aviation unions have again cautioned the federal government against granting the required Air Operators Certificate (AOC) needed to float a new national carrier, Nigerian Eagle airline.
The unions have premised their opposition on what they called the poor handling of the former Nigeria Airways property across the world.
The unions, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Union of Pensioners (NUP) in a statement issued in Lagos by Comrades Abdulrasaq Saidu and Emeka Njoku respectively, urged workers in the sector to gear up for a show down.
“Aviation Unions are calling on all aviation staff across the country to prepare for a show down with Arik Airlines as a result of huge indebtedness of Arik Airlines to Aviation service providers which is now affecting operation services rendered by these agencies.
“It has equally affected aviation Staff negatively to carry out their duties and responsibilities to other airlines and passengers in general”
The unions noted that Arik Airlines took over the majority property of former liquidated Nigeria Airways for a ridiculous amount while other landed property were shared among their friends and cronies.
The unions have alleged that Arik Airlines has been owing for services rendered by Aviation Service providers to the tune of N19 billion.
“Based on the above submission we hereby urged the Minister of Aviation to stop the issuance of AOC to Nigerian Eagle until all the total debts of Arik, the airline transforming to Nigerian Eagle, is settled.
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