The Senate’s Committee on Aviation has said the re-opening of the nation’s airports for operation on June 21 is unrealistic. This was in response to concerns raised by workers in the aviation industry.
Chairman of the Committee, Smart Adeyemi, disclosed this in a meeting with officials of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Air Transport Services.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the union officials had raised concerns experienced by the workers from their various employers.
They told the committee, that workers had not been paid salaries for some months, while some were paid half or received quarter salary by their various employers since the COVID-19 lockdown began in March.
They also noted that there was need for a special financial intervention and provision of necessary protocols, protective systems in view of the COVID-19 pandemic before reopening the airports for operations.
Mr Adeyemi pointed out that the senate was concerned about the issues raised by the aviation workers on their challenges, given that the aviation sector was key to the social-economic development of any country.
He stated that, although the aviation minister had said the airports would be unlocked on June 21, it might be difficult to allow the airports to open because of the concerns raised by the workers.
“Though you emphasised the need to unlock the airport, the fact remains that there are quite a number of issues that are begging for answers.
“I do not see how we will allow the airports to be unlocked when you are telling us that some of your colleagues have not been paid for months or that they were paid half salary.
“It will be suicidal to allow you guys to man the facilities, if you are saying that you have not been paid, so we must see how we can address this issue.
“I personally nurse the fear that it will be practically impossible for us to unlock the airports and aviation industry on June 21, given the issues raised,” he said.
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