The management of Arik Air has declared 300 workers of their employment redundant amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jomog News Nigeria reports that the management of Arik Air has relieved 300 staff of their appointment amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
It blamed the sacking on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.
This was contained in a statement titled, “Arik Air management declares 300 staff redundant”, issued on Friday by the airline’s spokesman, Adebanji Ola.
“Arising from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the constrained ability of the airline to complete heavy maintenance activities and return its planes to operations, stunted revenues against increasing operational costs, the management of Arik Air (In Receivership) has declared 300 staff members redundant to its current level of operations,” the statement partly read.
“The leadership of the impacted unions have been contacted to negotiate a redundancy package for the affected staff.”
The statement noted that over “50 per cent of Arik Air’s workforce of over 1,600 staff” has been on an unpaid leave of absence in the past six months on a base allowance.
While noting that decisions to let go of staff are naturally a difficult one, the airline wished the impacted staff well in their future endeavours.
In a separate statement released by its Public Relations and Communications Manager, Banji Ola, the airline apologised to passengers whose travel plans were disrupted by the protest carried out by the National Union of Air Transport Employees on December 3, 2020.
The picketing disrupted operations in Lagos and prevented the airline from processing passengers at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic Terminal 1 and 2.
