The trade unionist, in reaction to a rebuttal by workers of the airlines and a section of NUATE, said there are evidences to support his assertions and to warrant a full-blown investigation of the airline, since it was taken over by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
Abioye, in an open letter to the Minister dated September 26, 2023, had alleged management, in connivance with AMCON in recent time, coupled with the lack of transparency, asking government to open the books of the embattled carrier.
But the leadership of NUATE, Aero Contractors branch, debunked claims by their former scribe, as they urged the public to discount Abioye’s “false” claims.
Abioye, in a counter-petition, staked his unionist’s reputation and over four decades of experience in the aviation industry on his claims, emphasising financial mismanagement, anti-labour activities, misappropriations, among other infractions in the airlines.
According to him, “Did the Managing Director and his CFO collect a humongous sum of money for their trips from an ailing airline? Actually, the MD was paid around N32 million while his CFO collected N25 million, which I balanced up given other ancillaries to make up N60 million.”
On skewed promotions, Abioye added the management decided to compensate some close allies while others continue to wait in vain.
“What qualifies a staff for being promoted twice within a year? Were there no employees who had stagnated for years without promotion?
“Before my retirement as the General Secretary of NUATE, one of the issues we battled unsuccessfully was promotion of all qualified staff in consonance with the provisions of the Service Conditions of the Airline. At that time, Management erroneously told us that Aero being under receivership has suspended the operations of staff Conditions of Service and promotion is therefore embargoed.
“Suddenly, promotions were being carried out to a select few of their cronies under what is called phased exercise, thus leaving many more qualified personnel out.”
He added that Aero management also closed one Guest House “as it claimed and sold off or shared the proceeds without such being returned into the coffers of the airline and without its own in-house Standing Committee on such matters to know and record the same.
“It may interest you to note that after my petition, someone in their HR drew my attention to this issue and claimed that they actually sold some items that were no longer serviceable but took others to House 35, another Guest House somewhere. My question to the fellow was, did the committee participants take account of these scenarios? He was unable to answer.”
“Unfortunately for these fellows, it is the responsibility of every Nigerian to know how and why scarce resources, especially funds belonging to Nigeria are being expended. Aero Contractors is the general property of Nigeria and Nigerians. What did the Management do with its own share of the proceeds from 2023 Haji operations? Nigerians would love to know.
“No excuse can be accepted or tenable in the midst of massive financial recklessness when Management staff enjoys all perks and benefits, but sacked workers are being unjustly denied their rights to payments of their severance for six years. It is most callous and unfair,” he said.
