The NATIONAL Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has written to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) over the Azman sack of 10 workers, including six pilots and others describing the action by the airline as both provocative and callous.
The engineer and pilots association in a letter to the regulatory body where it also copied the Minister of Aviation, the permanent secretary of the ministry and other bodies said Azman’s action not just unlawful but immoral as the airline criminalized the pilots before other operators.
The letter signed by NAAPE Deputy General Secretary, Umoh Ofonime addressed to the Director General of the NCAA with Ref NS/GS/NAAPE/vol. 089/2020 dated November 9, 2020 with title: Unlawful sacking of Nigerian pilots by Azman Airline Management read: “We write to bring to your attention the unlawful and unilateral sacking of Nigerian pilots by Azman Air Management on the 6th of November, 2020. The management of Azman did nonstop at just sacking the pilots but also went ahead and criminalized them by instructing fellow airline operators not to employ them.”
“We find both actions provocative, callous and unacceptable to us. A situation where pilots are forced to work under the atmosphere of fear and intimidation is nothing but a good recipe for breach of safety and security of the airspace.
“We therefore call on you sir, to use your good office to intervene and restore law and order. This will give room for social dialogue and amicable resolutions of whatever the issue.
The airline had last Friday sacked no fewer than six pilots including three captains and three first officers as well as the airline Cabin Service Manager/Trainer, Account Officer in Abuja as well as two ticketers in the Abuja station.
The airline has also notified the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) of this sack reminding them of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed to avoid the pilots, giving credence to a cabal within the AON structure to continuously suppress pilot employment.
Capt Jibrin Saidu, Capt Abdulkarim Abubakar, Capt Jika Keghtor, First Officer Shehu Jibrilla Umar, First Officer Ibrahim Isa Musa and First Officer Bello Garba. Others affected are Isa Yamta Cabin Service Manager/Trainer, Account Officer Abuja Station as well as two ticketers at the Abuja station.
An official of the airlines said : “ The only thing I know about is some of the staff were terminated due to reductions of our flights as a result of low demand because of COVID-19 impact.”
