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By Chinelo Obogo
National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has expressed concern that controversies trailing foreign airlines trapped funds may lead to more job losses if the Federal Government fails to resolve the matter urgently.
In a letter written by NUATE’s General Secretary, Ocheme Aba, and addressed to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, the union said it had to weigh into the matter because it has a much higher stake than other stakeholders.
This was coming as the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), last week, expressed disappointment at government’s inability to allow foreign airlines repatriate their $464 million accumulated from sale of tickets now trapped in Nigerian banks.
In reaction to the development, Emirates had recently announced the suspension of flights to Nigeria over its $85million trapped in the country.
Aba said NUATE feels obliged to mention the threat to the employment and livelihood of thousands of workers of the affected foreign airlines should it lead to further significant reductions, or outright shutdown of operations of these airlines.
“The ugly situation of hundreds of millions of dollars earned by foreign airlines operating into Nigeria, but which they have been unable to repatriate due to Nigeria’s foreign exchange challenges has already been blown out by local and foreign media, bringing colossal collateral damage to Nigeria’s image.
“We find it ineluctable to weigh into the matter, being the trade union to which all workers in the foreign airlines belong…”
