Covid-19: Reopening of Airports on June 21 impracticable – Senate

The Senate Committee on Aviation, on Thursday said re-opening of nation’s airports for operation on June 21 was impracticable, following concerns raised by workers in the aviation sector.

Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi), gave the position during the committee interface with officials of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Air Transport Services.

The union officials had raised concerns experienced by the workers from their various employers in the sector especially in this Covid-19 pandemic period.

According to the president of aircraft transport services and the leader of the delegation, Mr. Ahmadu llitrus, “some workers had not been paid salaries for some months, while others were paid half or received quarter salary by their various employers since the COVID-19 lockdown began in March”. Mr Ahmadu Stated.

The representatives of the aviation workers 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.

In his reaction, Sen. Adeyemi said the senate was concerned about the issues raised by the aviation workers on their challenges, given that aviation sector was key to the social economic development of any country.

He said though it had been said that 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, but 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.

He said the senate would write the executive on the issues raised by the workers on the best option for the general interest of the nation, noting that the aviation sector could not be compromised for any reason, given its importance to economic development.

He said there must be mechanisms put in place to ensure safety and confront the challenges facing the sector before unlocking the airports.

The National President of the union, Mr Ahmadu, in his earlier submission also called for special intervention for the sector operators, given the huge capital required to operate in the sector.

He also said there was need to ensure proper provision of protective equipment and other protocols like re-certification of pilots, airworthiness of of the aircraft, payment of workers’ salary, among other requests before reopening the airports.

He also called on the senate to prevail on the Labour Ministry to wade into the grievances of workers, especially the prevention of some aviation workers from participating in union activities among others.

(Credit: Caleb Abah)