The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has hinted that the much talk about take-off of a new national carrier under the present government may be a tall dream as the unions in the country’s aviation sector have vowed to frustrate such effort if the former workers of the liquidated national carrier, Nigeria Airways are not paid their final entitlements.
The ATSSSAN gave this latest warning in a communique issued at the end of its 2018 National Executive Council (NEC) held in Abuja.
ATSSSAN in the communique signed by its National President, Comrade Ahmadu IIitrus and the Deputy General Secretary, Comrade France’s Akinjole respectively, concluded that the issue of payment of the severance benefits of the ex-Nigeria Airways workers must be resolved immediately.
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According to the union “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 warned 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-in-session of the Union lamented the failure of the Federal Government to settle the outstanding entitlements of ex-workers of Nigeria Airways fourteen years after the Airline was liquidated.
While appreciating the efforts of President Mohammadu Buhari who finally gave approval for the payment of Forty-Five Billion naira towards the settlement of the entitlements sometimes last year, the union condemned the nonpayment as at date.
The NEC commiserated with the families of the over 960 Nigeria Airways workers who had died in very avoidable health conditions while waiting for their entitlement, praying for the family they left behind the gratitude to carry on the struggle.
and then