Unions kick against issuance of AOC to Eagles Air
By Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo
Two aviation unions in the country have called on the federal government not to grant Air Operators Certificate AOC to Nigerian Eagle airline over the poor handling of the former Nigeria Airways property across the world.
The unions, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals ANAP and the National Union of Pensioners NUP in a press statement signed issued in Lagos by Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu and Comrade Emeka Njoku respectively, urged workers in the industry to gear up for show down.
“Aviation Unions are calling on all Aviation Staff across the country to prepare for a show down with Arik Airlines as a result of huge indebtedness of Arik Airlines to Aviation service providers which is now affecting operation services rendered by these agencies.”
“It has equally affected Aviation Staff negatively to carry out the duties and responsibilities to other Airlines and passengers in general”
The unions noted that arik Airlines took over the majority property of former liquidated Nigerian Airways for a ridiculous amount while other landed property were shared among their friends and cronies.
According to the unions, Arik Airlines has been owing for services rendered by Aviation Service providers to the tune of #19 Billion Naira which they agreed but refused to pay.
“Based on the above submission we hereby urged the Honourable Minister of Aviation to stop the issuance of AOC to Nigeria Eagle until all the total debts of Arik transforming to Nigeria Eagle is settled to avoid repeated mistake of Bellview Air transforming to First Nation and eventually died with the debts.”
