Aviation workers, under the aegis of the National Union of
Air Transport Employees (NUATE), have called on the “owners” of Arik Air to
cooperate with its receiver-manager appointed by the Asset Management
Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
This is contained in a statement issued by Ocheme Aba, general
secretary, NUATE.
The airline was created in 2004 by Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, a
businessman.
In February 2017, Arik Air was taken over by the federal
government via AMCON due to the company’s huge debt profile, which was over
N300 billion.
The government immediately dissolved the airline’s
management team, and appointed a receiver manager.
Last month, media reports had said the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detained Omokide Kamilu, receiver-manager
for Arik Air, over alleged misappropriation and diversion of about N120
billion.
But the airline later debunked the allegation against
Kamilu, describing it as “patently false”.
In the statement, Aba said the two entities (aside the
workers) have the most to gain or lose
from the state of the airline, adding that “there is still much life in
Airk Air ”.
“A recognition of this fact will alter the present state of
adversity/animosity between the two gladiators which has been anything but
helpful,” the statement reads.
“If the two parties agree to work together, and receive the
understanding of the workforce, it is our concrete belief that a pathway out of
the doldrums will be not too difficult to chart.
Aba advised AMCON to invest in Arik Air as the airline
cannot move one inch out of the woods without some reasonable investment.
“We consider that
ultimately, the incoming Minister of Aviation will have to give due
consideration with view of fostering the needed synergy among all stakeholders
to assure that the foregoing objectives are positively delivered in the
interest of the owners, the Receivers Manager, the workers, other creditors of
Arik Air, and the aviation industry at large. This is necessarily the duty of
government,” the statement adds.
“It is not clear what the mind of AMCON is reading right
now. But, it is clear to us what the mind of the owners of Arik is reading; to
get back their company.
“The purpose of this intervention is to assist to unite the
minds of the owners with the Receivers in the direction that can, through
practical deliverables, arrive at the point where a healthy Arik Air can return
to normalcy at the peak of the Nigerian airline industry where it rightly
belongs.
“We sincerely appeal to all parties to agree to a truce and
start now to work in alliance to assure the health of the Airline. A healthy
Arik Air should be the objective, and in fact the interest, of all. Anything
else will do no one any good.”
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