REJOINDER: OPEN LETTER TO THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF AVIATION By COMARDE OLAYINKA ABIOYE,EX- GENERAL SECRETARY OF NUATE | The Legend News

Our attention has been drawn to an open letter to the Honourable Minister of Aviation on petitions against our esteemed Management of Aero Contractors by an Ex – General Secretary, Mr Olayinka Abioye.

SUSPENSION OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS

As you may recall, the operations of Aero Contractors was shut down by the erstwhile Management on the 20th July, 2022 due to operational challenges and the inability to pay staff salaries which posed serious safety issues at the time.

With the aim to resuscitate the distressed airline, AMCON changed the Management of the airline i.e. the CEO and CFO. The CEO, Capt. Ado Sanusi was reappointed on the October 1st 2022 after his initial exit in December 2020 following the successful turnaround of the airline after a 4 month shut down in 2016 when the company was placed under Receivership.

The new Management worked tirelessly and relentlessly to satisfy the laid down conditions of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority before recommencement of the flight operations of the airline. On December 5th 2022, the airline recommenced flight operation and staff that were previously sent home on lean operations were recalled. We also hereby confirm that since resumption of flight operations, salaries have been up-to-date.

REDUNDANT STAFF FROM 2017

Contrary to the claims of the open letter, the redundancy exercise was amicably agreed between the relevant unions and Aero’s Management and till date 98% of the redundant staff have been paid their redundancy benefit.

PROMOTION

During a town hall meeting, amongst other issues addressed, the new management encouraged all staff not to be demoralised due to the outstanding salaries but try to put in their best to ensure the operations of the airline is stabilized and to motivate staff, that they will settle arrears and overdue promotions in batches, as the airline’s operations improve.

ALLEGED N60 MILLION EXPENDED ON AN OVERSEAS TRIP

From our enquiries, we wish to state that at no point did the Management expend the sum of N60 million on an overseas trip as alleged and that all travels are done in line with company policy with appropriate approvals obtained.

ALLEGED SALE OF ESO GRA PROPERTY

Addressing the issue of the alleged sale of the property in ikeja, GRA, it is pertinent to note that No 3, Eso Close, GRA Ikeja, Lagos has never been owned by Aero Contractors but is s rented property which belongs to the Shaw family. The owners recently informed Aero of the sale of the property and requested Aero vacate the property to enable handover to the new owners.

FUND FROM HAJJ OPERATIONS

The investors for Hajj operation entered a commercial agreement with Aero and they have kept to the terms of the commercial agreement. It is chagrining that the Ex – General Secretary was referring to a subject to which he is not privy.

SALE OF MAJORITY SHARES

This is at best a rumour as we have not been informed of any such sale.

OUR MESSAGE

We call on the Honourable Minister of Aviation, fellow Nigerians and all concerned to disregard the publication as we refute and we dissociate ourselves from the publication and its originator, Ex – General Secretary, Mr Olayinka Abioye as he is no more an active Executive of our union, NUATE.

We would like to use this opportunity to state that we have strong faith in this Management under the leadership of Capt. Ado sanusi as they uphold sincerity, transparency and integrity in the affairs of the company.

We appeal to the Minister of Aviation to kindly support the leadership of this Management to ensure the survival of Nigeria’s oldest airline.

We wish the Honourable Minister of Aviation much success in his tenure.

Thank you.

Signed:  NUATE, Aero Contractors

Frank Omoakha      Kayode  Davies

Chairman                     Secretary