The Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika on Friday paid a surprise visit to the head office of Aero Contractors in Lagos two days after the airline suspended scheduled operations.
His visit was to pacify angry workers who had occupied the premises of the airline since Thursday querying management’s decision to suspend services indefinitely without addressing the labour related issues.
The unions including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) said their members working with Aero were being owed two months’ salaries while they were not paid severance allowance before the Aero management asked them to go on indefinite leave.
They vowed to remain at Aero until their demands are met.
However, the demonstration turned to celebration as the workers were happy that the minister visited them.
His appeal for calm reportedly yielded result as the workers agreed to sheath their sword and allow his intervention.
Mr. Yakubu Dati, the General Manager Public Affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the Minister paid a surprise visit to the workers to identify with them.
According to him, the unions found Sirika’s intervention not only timely but reassuring which prompted them to end their demonstration.
