According to Faan, Arik Air owes it N12.5bn (£43.3m) and fearful that the debt might affect its members, aviation unions picketed the general aviation terminal at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos yesterday, disrupting flights. Arik spokesman, Adebanji Ola confirmed that the Faan workers’ union had stopped the airline's operations at the airport, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded, adding that the dispute would continue until the agency and the airline resolved the debt issue.
Mr Ola added: “Workers of the airline were prevented from gaining access to their duty posts, thereby disrupting the day’s operations. The action by the workers’ union is connected with the long-standing and unsubstantiated claim by Faan alleging spurious indebtedness of the airline to the agency, which is now a matter before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
“For several months, the managements of Arik Air and Faan have been meeting to reconcile the accounts between the two institutions. The reconciliation process is still ongoing until the latest actions by the union.”
He added that this was not the first time the Faan workers’ union had taken the law into their hands by disrupting Arik Air's operations. According to Mr Ola, Arik looks forward to working collaboratively with Faan and other aviation agencies to resolve the impasse and return to its core purpose of providing essential world class services to the people of Nigeria.
“The current situation is deeply out of control of Arik Air and the management of the airline has been compelled to suspend all domestic operations for today. This will remain in force until such a time that the unfortunate situation is resolved.
“Arik Air sincerely apologises for the inconvenience the Faan workers’ union’s action may have caused its esteemed passengers. We live to serve the needs of the people of the great nation, Nigeria," he added.
However, the union’s leadership countered Arik’s explanation for its industrial action, stating that it resorted to shutting down operations after year-long negotiations were stopped by the airline, which feigned ignorance of its debt as well as refused to pay its outstanding liabilities. Olayinka Abioye, the general secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, confirmed that the dispute was over the debt.
One Arik official added: “Is it now the responsibility of the union to seek payment of money owed aviation agencies? By doing that, the union has gone beyond its mandate, which is getting to lawlessness.
“Even if Arik owes Faan, there is an official process through which the money can be collected. Unions do not have any right, according to the laws of the country, to disrupt the operations of a company because of debt as there is a proper channel through which such issues are resolved."
He pointed out that Arik has a letter from Faan, which acknowledges that the airline has paid N11.4bn. According to the Arik official, this illegality cannot continue as it is not the responsibility of the union to challenge Arik over its debt to Faan.
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