Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Aviation
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji has appealed to airlines and other private organizations in the aviation sector not to abandon their staff in this period of uncertainties caused by COVID19 pandemic.
Nnaji made this known following a memo that emanated from management of Max Air and gone viral.
The management of Max Air in the memo informed its staff of the inability to pay them for the period the airlines suspended operations while some states would be on lockdown for about two weeks).
The Committee Chairman said he was disturbed by the memo issued by Max Air to its staff by Max Air saying that it would not pay them salaries for the period of the two weeks lockdown on the directive by the Federal Government.
He also urged the Hon Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sariki to step in and hold talks with the various stakeholders in the industry to avoid ripple effects of Max Air action.
He noted that “the memo which has now gone viral further stressed that the state of no pay would extend if the situation persisted and my major worry is that other organizations may do same if care is not taken.”
Hon. Nnaji however, appealed to the management of the airline to reconsider this hard line posture and rescinding on the policy; just as he equally urged other organizations in the sector to see this trying period as a time of sacrifice and show extreme compassion to their staff.
“Am aware that elsewhere, governments are providing palliatives for employers of labour to cushion the impact of this pandemic but because of our peculiar circumstances the Federal Government may not immediately offer such at the moment”.
Honourable Nnaji said he was optimistic that some form of relief would definitely come at the end of the day to assist the airlines.
Hon. Nnaji who represents Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency of Enugu State, also used the opportunity to call for understanding among the people and leaders of the South East Region over the aborted plan to reopen Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu before Easter.
Nnaji lamented that the development was caused by the COVID19 pandemic which has forced the contractor and consultants handling the project as well as their workers to leave the site.
The aviation committee chairman, however, assured that as soon as the prevailing pandemic died down works would resume at an accelerated speed while a new date for commissioning of the airport would be disclosed.
Hon. Nnaji equally praised the Governor of Enugu State Rt. Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the way and manner he has mobilized materials and human resources to curtail the spread of corona virus in Enugu.
He also urged the citizens of the state to cooperate with Enugu State government by sticking to the instruction given on Stay at home and social distancing
