Management of Aero contractors has reiterated its firms commitment to ensuring the complete payment of the five percent balance of its employees outstanding redundancy compensations.
Captain Ado Sanusi, the Chief Executive Officer of the airline, stated in a press conference that the organization was intensifying efforts to address outstanding financial commitments on Thursday.
However, he faulted the move by workers union- the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers- to issue a press statement despite ongoing efforts to resolve the issue amicably.
“This should not be an opportunity for disharmony; dialogue is a process. There was a letter written, there was a process agreed upon, and all of a sudden they went to the press. We are ready to resolve the issue,” the CEO stated.
NAAPE earlier issued a letter threatening to go on a protest over non-payment of outstanding redundancy benefits to its members.
The protest letter, addressed to the management of the airline, read in part, “Consequent upon the avalanche of complaints received from our members who have been deprived of their fundamental entitlements and denied the rightful collection of their redundancy benefits in the last seven years and given the anguish and mental agonies suffered by them.
“We are compelled, as responsible representatives of these eminent men/women, including the dead, to protest through this letter and express our bitterness over management’s seeming lackadaisical attitude, insincerity and insensitivity to the continued wellbeing of these great Nigerians,” the group stated.
On Thursday, Sanusi explained that In the last seven years, the company has paid approximately 95 percent of the redundancy benefits.
“We should be given credit because this management initiated the process of paying off redundancy. We want our prospective investors to understand that we are a very responsible company, and we take our obligations seriously, not only for staff but also in other areas. We update them on a day-to-day basis to ensure business continuity. It is a very tough environment in which we are operating.”
Aero Contractors remains steadfast in its efforts to uphold its obligations and ensure business continuity, despite challenges posed by fluctuating exchange rates and fuel cost, sanusi said.
“We are all aware of the tough times we experienced due to the high exchange rate and aviation fuel. We are all aware of how many companies came to the brink of closure. We have remained steadfast despite all the challenges,” he said
The airline had issued a statement in response to NAAPE actions.
The statement read in part, “Management is indeed disappointed and surprised with the NAAPE that having called for a meeting regarding payment of outstanding benefits to a number of former employees; they decided to go public through the media before the meeting.
“A few clarifications need to be made to put things in context and clarify issues. The company has successfully disbursed redundancy payments to at least 95 per cent of affected staff. Admittedly, we still have outstanding financial commitment to a few affected staff. However, plans are under way to defray these and we have been engaging with affected staff to carry them along in all the company has been doing and going through.
“For the avoidance of doubt out of a total number of 237 staff affected by the redundancy, 225 have been paid off representing 94.94 per cent of those affected.
“Nonetheless, we still have a total of 12 outstanding staff that are yet to be paid. This represents about 5.06 per cent of the original population. Of this number 3 are ATSSSAN members and 9 belong to NAAPE. Efforts are being made in the near future to pay the outstanding to the staff.”
Aero management said it empathized over the discomfort and strain the experience had put on the affected individuals as well as the whole company.
The airline said, “We ask for more understanding as we work towards resolving all outstanding issues. We believe it is important to situate the whole experience within the operational context that Aero Contractors in particular and the industry in general has had to operate over the period in question.
“The operating environment within the aviation industry has been overwhelmingly challenging, with the company enduring significant challenges including two instances of cessation of operations for extended periods. The first was in August 31, 2016 to late December 2016 and the second was in July 20th, 2022 to December 4th, 2022.
“After about a five months shut down we have assiduously worked on defraying outstanding payments and commitments, not only to affected personnel but to ensure the viability of operations and to continue as a going concern.
It added, “This is in spite of additional challenges posed by escalating cost of operations, particularly the substantial cost the fuel component of our operational costs which has severely constrained our finances and affecting allocations to various expense headings, including terminal benefits owed to former employees.
“Be that as it may, as the figures show, management has been relentless in ensuring a vast majority of affected persons are settled. We assure you that Aero Contractors remains committed to fulfilling its obligations to all stakeholders. We continue to actively work to resolve all outstanding issues and ensure that affected individuals receive their rightful entitlements.
“Since the return of the company in December 2022 to operations, we have ensured a call back of all employees and reintegrated them to be in a position to contribute to building the organisation they love back to the stature for which it has always been known.
“It is an onerous task that we (former and current staff), owe to the company and the heritage we have laboured for over the years. We shall succeed.
“We appreciate your understanding. Our commitment to operating with integrity and accountability remains unwavering, and Aero Contractors remains steadfast in its dedication to the well-being of its employees, past and present”, the airline said.
