NLC Faults FG's Argument on Airlines
By Chris Nwachuku
Nigeria Labour Congress has faulted the government's justification of the suspension of Slok Airlines and the liquidation of Nigeria Airways as unsatisfactory, and has resolved to petition the presidency again.
It noted that actions taken against these two outfits had further impoverished hundreds of Nigerians. The NLC therefore requested the Federal Government to take immediate action to remedy the situation.
NLC president, Adams Oshiomhole, who unveiled workers' position, noted that the defence put forward by the aviation minister that Slok was grounded because it was flying four aircraft as against the two approved does not attract any sympathy for government action.
According to Oshiomhole, only the two aircraft that were not licensed should have been grounded if government was sincere, noting that by its action government was not portraying itself positively.
"If only two aircarft were licensed, the worst that government should do is to withdraw the unregistered ones. It does not make sense to ground the entire flight. This is not a logical argument. We shall write the presidency again becuase hundreds of Nigerians are suffering as a result of this action," said Oshiomhole.
He stated that over two thousand Nigerians were affected by the action, noting that many of them are breadwinners, with the responsibilities of taken care of their children. He said the continue withdrawal of the slok airline from Nigerian airspace is injurious to the social economic wellbeing of the workers and their dependent.
On the liquidation of the Nigeria Airways, NLC president urged government not to visit the sins of it agencies on the workers. He contended that the problem of the airline was the result of the mismagagement by its officials insisting that the workers should not be made to bear the burden alone.
Particularly, the workers leader said before the liquidation is carried out, all the entitlements of the workers should be paid declatring that no worker will leave his current place of residence until all the terminal benfits are paid.
To do otherwise is to further subject the workers to addtional hardship.
Labour also faulted the provision of labour bill on the aviation sector, stating that to deny the workers the right to strike is tantamount to undermine the labour and fundamental rights as stipulated by Nigeria constitution and International Labour Organisation conventions.
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