.. Feels highly unprotected
The management of Air Peace has decried the loss of over ₦700 million today on the disruption of all its flights by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, because of an alleged misunderstanding they had with Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.
The Airline explained in a statement that the NLC and TUC officials today stormed the Lagos Airport and took over its counter, disrupting all its operations because of an alleged misunderstanding they had with Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.
Air Peace stated that the Unions had written them yesterday, saying that no flight should be operated into Owerri today because, as they alleged, Governor Uzodimma disrupted their May Day activities few days ago.
The Airline pointed out that it has no affiliation whatsoever with the Imo State Government or Governor Uzodimma, stressing that their duty and commitment are to the Nigerian flying public that have paid them.
The Airline explained that :”We have a contract with them to deliver. This morning, they carried out a selective attack on Air Peace, took over our counters and disrupted our operations.
“While they were doing this, another Nigerian airline was allowed to operate into and out of Owerri. They took over our counters in Owerri, Abuja and Lagos, disrupting over 110 flights of Air Peace. This particular illegal action of NLC and TUC will lead to over ₦400 million naira loss to the airline. It will equally lead to massive disruptions and cancellations of our flights across the country today, and that will snowball into the coming days, too.
This is not the first time the NLC or unions will be attacking Air Peace for issues that have no bearing with the airline. There was a time they attacked Air Peace because they were protesting minimum wage with the Federal Government. While the minimum wage was 18,000 naira then, the minimum wage at Air Peace was even 50,000 naira”.
Air Peace stated further that: “It is more worrisome that the security agencies are watching while an airline that is discharging its duties to the country is being harassed and hounded by miscreants at these airports, and this is not the first time. We do not understand why Air Peace and aviation should be selected for this kind of treatment. If they have a grouse against Governor Uzodimma, that should be taken to Imo State. Why are they not stopping road transport workers who are going to Imo State?
Aviation borders on national security and we have been made a laughing stock in the world. Who is going to pay Air Peace over ₦700 million naira lost today and in the coming days?”
The Airline used the opportunity to alert the Nigerian flying public that all its flights will be disrupted today and in the coming days because cancellations will follow.
“Any flight we fail to operate today due to this illegal occupation of our operations will lead to cancellations in most sunset airports. Who is going to take responsibility for this? We feel highly unprotected”, Air Peace concluded in the statement.
