Plans by embattled business man, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, to resume operations in the aviation sector in a year’s time may never materialise if the Nigerian Government harkens to the voice of the over 700 staff of Air Nigeria.

True to their threat, which was reported two days ago by News Express, Air Nigeria workers late yesterday morning launched a protest in Lagos, the country’s aviation hub, denouncing Ibrahim, who on Wednesday (Sept. 5) announced the mass sack of staff and suspension of operations of Air Nigeria.

Ibrahim, who alleged staff disloyalty and a hostile business environment, said he had retained 50 loyal staff to resume operations in a year’s time.

Replying the Air Nigeria Chairman during their protest, the workers labeled him a fraudster who must never be allowed to operate in the sector. “Jimoh is a fraudster, a destroyer,” declared one of their placards. “He destroyed NICON, now he has destroyed Air Nigeria.”

Another placard said: “Jonathan, we do not need Jimoh in aviation in Nigeria” while yet another asked: “Where is our salaries of five months?”

The protesters who numbered over a hundred, included pilots, aircraft engineers and cabin crew attendants.

The Air Nigeria staff had in a statement issued Sept. 6 and signed by Wale Adeniran alleged that they are being owed four months’ salaries in addition to the unpaid debt of N56 million “borrowed” from the Air Nigeria Cooperative Society. They also accused Ibrahim of not remitting pensions deducted monthly from staff salaries to the Pension Fund Administrators, and of failing to remit taxes deducted from their salaries to the relevant authorities.

Yesterday’s protest, which took place around 11:00 a.m., saw the workers marching around the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MM2), chanting war songs and brandishing placards.

The workers say it is unacceptable for Ibrahim to sack them through a newspaper statement as opposed to the content of their employment letters.

News Express recalls that NCAA had on June 21 suspended Air Nigeria’s local flight operations for the second time in two weeks, citing financial distress capable of jeopardising safety.

Efforts by Ibrahim to get the suspension lifted failed, culminating in the closure of the airline formerly operating as Virgin Nigeria before he bought it in early 2010.

*Photo courtesy Sunday Owho.

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