Aviation unions and workers led by the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) have again condemned the planned sack of about 500 staff of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO Aviance).

The union while protesting at the premises of the company on Monday, locked out the Acting Managing Director, Mr. Norbert Bielderman.

Comrade Benjamin Okewu of ATSSSAN ‎ who led the protest said the unions will not sit and watch the management of the company disengage this high number of workers.

He said despite the negotiations with the management of NAHCO Aviance, the company is bent on sacking the staff.

Okewu disclosed that the company is planning a systematic retrenchment of the staff over a period of time starting from next year.

The union during the protest which lasted for hours, locked the gate of the company and kept Mr Bielderman stranded.

NAHCO Aviance is a Nigerian diversified enterprise with interests in aviation cargo, aircraft handling, passenger facilitation, crew transportation and aviation training.

The company currently serves more than 35 airlines at seven airports across Nigeria, with plans to expand operations to other African countries.

It handles about 70 percent of domestic and foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.

It was incorporated on December 6, 1979 as an aviation servicing company but started operations in April 1979 with the commissioning of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), initially held 60 percent equity interest in the company while four foreign airlines – Air France, British Airways, Sabena and Lufthansa – shared the remaining 40 percent in various ratios.

In 2005, NAHCO Aviance was privatised and subsequently listed on The Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2006.

The company is now owned by over 80,000 shareholders, including two international airlines – Air France and Lufthansa; as well as local investors; Sycor Private Investment Limited and Rosehill Group Nigeria Limited.

•Excerpted from a Nigerian Pilot report. Photo shows NAHCO Aviance Acting MD, Norbert Bielderman.