SAN FRANCISCO, December 14, (THEWILL) – Crisis is gradually brewing among National Union of Air Transport Employee (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN) and the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) over allegation against the Bureau for fraudulently withholding severance package for the severed workers of the defunct Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited.
Skypower Aviation was carved out of the liquidated Nigeria Airways Limited before it was privatised in December 2009, as part of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Aviation’s reform of 1996.
The handling company, presently known as SAHCOL, was handed over to Sifax Group on December 23, 2009.
But the unions, who were worried by the poor condition and welfare of their workers since they were severed from active service over six years ago, accused BPE of fraudulently withholding money approved for payment to workers.
Speaking, Olayinka Abioye, executive secretary of NUATE, said the BPE had no basis for withholding the money, saying union leaders had done due diligence in ensuring that the package was paid to the workers.
“BPE has no reason to hold on to the severance package of the workers. It is outright fraudulent activities; we have done all the due diligence to ensure that money are paid. We have done management meetings, we have had unions meeting and they have met with the management of SAHCOL where it was agreed that the money was owed the people and BPE should pay,” Abioye said.
Abioye, who further said that the unions had met with the BPE, management of SAHCOL and consultants to the government and they had given a go ahead for the payment of the package.
He said: “The unions, BPE, the management and HR consultants have held several meeting, and several process that will lead to the successful disengagement of these workers were agreed upon.
“The processes, according to the meeting, were payment of gratuity, pension arrears on pension contributions, three months payment in lieu of severance payoff, repatriation accrued leave, outstanding one month salary that was owed and all these processes were concluded except two in which one is the major one.
“The major one was the refusal of BPE to release in its custody the sum of N3.2 billion for SACHOL employees, representing their five years payment total emolument. Also, we agreed that all the employees to be disengaged must undergo perseverance training, and the liquidator till tomorrow reneged,” he said.
Abioye however said the unions had approached the National Industrial Court to seek justice for its members, saying “since it was an industrial issue, we have decided to approach the National Industrial Court to get justice for our members.”
When contacted by THEWILL, Alex Okon, the public relation officer of the BPE, promised to look into the issue and get back to our correspondent.
But, as of the time of filing in this report, he was yet to reply to the text message.
