The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has sought President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention in the crisis brewing from non-issuance of Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to NG Eagle.
The General Secretary of the union, Mr Ocheme Aba, made the call during a media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday.
The Asset Management of Nigeria (AMCON), the Receiver Manager of Arik, had allegedly planned to use the asset of the airline to start up a new airline, NG Eagle.
The Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) had urged the NCAA not to issue AOC to start-up airline, NG Eagle.
This is for the fear that Arik Air was transforming itself to NG Eagle and would thereby escape its heavy indebtedness to FAAN and other aviation agencies.
Aba, however, urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Chief of Staff to the President (CoS) to urgently intervene in the matter in order to chart a path to progress on the issues.
The general secretary noted that the only quarter that could put a stop to a chaotic end of Arik Air crisis and stop the desecration of the NCAA was the presidency at this time.
The NUATE scribe said the issue of indebtedness of Arik Air to FAAN and the NCAA was only a smokescreen, adding that the real issue was the politics of a new national carrier.
He said this would aid AMCON to continue with its rescue efforts in the airline which was the best option for now to safeguard all interests.
Aba said should there be a chaotic end to Arik Air by way of liquidation, the workers would count among the greatest losers.
“You are all witnesses to the untold hardship that befell ex-workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways after the airline was unceremoniously liquidated by the Obasanjo regime in 2014.
“It took an intervening period of 20 years and spanned four governments – the governments of Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari – before the hapless workers began to get some reprieve in terms of their terminal benefits.
“Therefore, the intervention of the presidency is urgently needed to grant AMCON the space to continue to protect the employment of over 2000 employees.
“This will also afford the unions and the management to negotiate severance benefits for Arik workers; a process that is presently at concluding stages.
Aba said the second reason for the urgent intervention of the presidency was to avert the flight of integrity out of the NCAA processes.
He said that this would give the assurance that only technical issues stated by Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs), dictate the issuance of AOC to NG Eagle.
He said the stakes were too high for the nation to allow individuals’ interest to jeopardise national interest, especially as another round of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Safety Audit and United States of America Category One certification beckons.
Aba said thirdly, the intervention of the presidency was needed to protect AMCON, not from payment of debts, but to maintain focus on rescuing the industry from wayward airline proprietors and colluding or condescending public officers.
He said AMCON’s intendment for setting NG Eagle cannot be countermanded and should be rewarded with quickened assent by all authorities concerned.
