…Sirika shows solidarity
BIODUN AKOMOLAFE
The federal government has assured workers of troubled Aero Contractors airline that none of them would lose their jobs.
The assurance was delivered by Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika while addressing protesting workers of the airline when during an unscheduled visit to the headquarters of the airline at the Domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
Sirika, who showed solidarity with the protesting workers by dancing openly with them, promised that the airlines would soon be restructured, appealed to the workers to disperse till Monday when he promised to return with a feedback after his meeting with Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Aero Management and other critical stakeholders.
“We will look into your demands, and come out with solutions that are mutually beneficial to the staff, management and the Government” he added.
He told the workers that the federal government would make sure that the problems plaguing the airline would be solved, even as he noted that it is the responsibility of government to create jobs and therefore would not allow any business concern to die under its watch.
“I landed from Riyadh to Lagos and before I left Riyadh I was informed by the people in charge in Aero that things were getting worse and they have only one airplane operational at the moment and I said to myself since I have time between my flight to Lagos and connecting one to Abuja, I decided to come and see Aero and probably discuss a few issues with the managers and possibly see the staff, but unfortunately I came here and saw that there is a protest going on, so I had to stop by, listened, discussed and came to an agreement,” he said..
The Minister who identified some of the challenges facing the airline explained that the Federal government did not establish AMCON to kill any business concern in the country but to ensure their survival.
He however, said that would meet with Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the management of Aero Contractors and get back to the workers on Monday.
“The primary purpose of government, especially this APC government is to help to promote, nurse, sustain, develop, keep businesses so that they can continue to provide services and employ our people. So it is not the government of APC that will kill jobs and close down shops; our intent is to promote jobs and promote businesses in Nigeria so that businesses will be growing,” the Minister said.
The Minister was accompanied by Director General of NCAA, Capt Usman Muktar, Director of Maintenance and Engineering, FAAN, Engr Oluwafemi Ogunode, and Dr Ibrahim Idris from the Minister’s office.
The interaction also attracted President of ATSSSAN, Comrade Benjamin Okewu, Chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria, (AON) Noggie Meggisson, and other critical stakeholders.
