Nigeria Airways: Salaries, Pension to Top ILO Agenda
By Ndubuisi Francis
International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), an association with headquarters in London which protects the interest of aviation and transportation employees in over 120 countries has expressed concern over the non payment of the salaries, pension and final benefits of Nigeria Airways workers.
The organisation has expressed its readiness to table the matter at the next tripartite conference of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) slated for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in December.
The ITF said it had hoped that countries like Nigeria would be key players in the aviation industry "but given the government's interference in the operation of Nigerian Airways and the abysmal treatment of the workforce as a result of the closure, this raises a number of questions about the government's commitment to the future of a viable, effective and stable civil aviation network".
The body which has already written the Aviation Minister, Mallam Isa Yuguda, particularly protested the non payment of the salaries and pension of Nigeria Airways workers even when the airline has commenced "formal liquidation".
In a letter dated September 15, 2004 and signed by David Cockroft, the ITF said it was particularly concerned at the "continued poor treatment of our affiliated members in the Air Transport Services Senior Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE )which appears to be the direct result of the government's decision to close down Nigeria Airways.
"We understand that Nigeria Airways' workforce and pensioners have still not been paid and they are now in extreme difficulties as eighteen and twenty six months salary arrears are now due respectively", it noted.
The group which disclosed that it has a membership of a million aviation workers in more than 120 countries said it was in the know that Virgin Atlantic Airways which is floating Virgin-Nigeria has now been allocated the routes of Nigeria Airways "together with some other assets when its affiliate "members have not received any settlement for their own back pay".
"We also understand that Virgin Airlines has now been allocated the routes of Nigeria Airways together with some other assets, yet our members have not received any settlement for their own back pay. This is an appalling situation as many of our members are suffering from severe stress with debts mounting in
terms of unpaid rents and school fees. Indeed, it has been reported to us that
some of our members have been made homeless as a direct result of this continuing situation", the ITF said.
Describing the situation as appalling "as many of our members are suffering from severe stress with debts mounting in terms of unpaid rents and school fees", the ITF stated that it has indeed "been reported to us that some of our members have been made homeless as a direct result of this continuing situation".
"As you will know, the International Transport Workers' Federation is the globally recognised organisation for aviation and transportation employees, representing, amongst others, a million aviation workers in more than 120 countries. We are particularly concerned at the continued poor treatment of our affiliated members in ATSSSAN and NUATE which appears to be the direct result of the government's decision to close down Nigeria Airways.
The organisation stated that it was particularly concerned that Nigeria Airways has now gone into formal liquidation "and we would have expected our members' salaries, pensions to be given priority in the payments of debts owed by Nigeria
Airways before assets are disposed off to other airlines".
The ITF noted that in the foregoing, it was poised to raise the issue at the next International Labour Organisation (ILO)tripartite conference, which takes place in Addis Ababa in December with a theme "The future of African aviation".
"This will be an extremely important debate for the industry, indeed the ITF sees this opportunity as a defining moment in the development of civil aviation in Africa.
"We had hoped that countries such as Nigeria could be key players in the industry but given the government's interference in the operation of Nigerian Airways and the abysmal treatment of the workforce as a result of the closure, this raises a number of questions about the government's commitment to the future of a viable, effective and stable civil aviation network.
"Indeed, whilst Virgin Airways has initially benefited from the routes subsequently allocated to it, the company will also be aware that the current working relationship with the government is of a temporary nature, given recent history in the industry. We must also point out to you that many Virgin Airlines workers are also members of ITF affiliated unions and we shall be writing to their respective unions to build support for their fellow members in Nigeria", the letter noted.
The ITF expressed hope that the issue of unpaid salaries and pensions would be resolved quickly for its affiliate members in Nigeria, "especially now that we understand that there has been initial agreement about entitlements and benefits guaranteed by the Nigerian Civil Service Rules and Pensions Act of 1974".
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