The nation’s aviation unions comprising of National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association, ATSSSAN, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE have called on President Bola Tinubu to use his good office to call all parties in the ongoing matter that led to the grounding of Arik Air fleet by government agencies to order and allow Arik Air continue their operations while the issues are being resolved.
In an open Letter to President Tinubu titled: Please save our souls over the reckless grounding of Arik Air fleet
which was copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Technology, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the unions stated that the call is in the national interest, especially considering that there is an order of court directing all parties to maintain status quo ante.
In the letter signed by Comrade Ocheme Aba, General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary of NAAPE and Comrade Frances Akinjole, Principal Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN, the unions reminded the President that one of the unions, NAAPE had forwarded a letter to his office dated February 20, 2024, with the title “Save our Souls – Request for urgent and compassionate intervention on Arik Air Nigeria Limited (in receivership) over indebtedness between Prince Arthur Eze and Sir Johnson Arumemi”.
The unions said they are shocked that Arik Air’s fleet of four aircraft was grounded by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on Tuesday July 30, 2024 over the subject matter in the above referenced letter.
They pointed out that this action has created anguish and severe frustration among Arik Air’s passengers, and has exacerbated the present air travel challenges in the Country.
The letter reads in parts: “Mr. President can imagine the state of mind of those who have made both short and long term bookings, including group bookings, with the Airline, especially those who may not have the means to pay for alternative flights. We are particularly concerned about the fate of the 2000, or so, workers of the Airline and their about 16000 dependents who are unfortunately caught up in this unneeded contraption. Under the current severe socio-economic upheavals, throwing such large numbers of citizens into economic quagmire can only worsen the forbearance strains.
“This is apart from losses of other third party vendors and service providers – airports, aviation agencies, ground handlers, fuellers, caterers, etc. This will have significant negative impact on the earnings of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, National Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. Against the background of the negative consequences of the earlier similar grounding of Dana Air for which the industry is still counting the losses, we consider this avoidable situation to be truly worrisome”.
The letter reads further: “Your Excellency, Sir, while we cannot arrogate the review of any judicial decision regarding the matter to ourselves as trade unions, we are strongly of the opinion that the mentioned fleet of aircraft cannot be subject of attachment to any writ that might have occasioned the grounding of the airline as the fleet of aircraft do not belong to Arik Air as such, it being lien belonging to secured creditors. While we await your expeditious intervention in this matter, we most passionately request that you use your esteemed office to call all parties in this matter, especially government agencies, to order and allow Arik Air continue their operations even while the issues are being resolved. This is in the national interest, especially considering that there is an order of court directing all parties to maintain status quo ante”.
