Posted by Sade Williams
Azman Air has reportedly on Saturday, sacked six pilots and some others from the company.
Although, there are conflicting reports on Saturday on why the workers were sacked, some claimed they were sacked because they complained of late payment of their salaries, others claimed the reason was due to COVID-19 impact rescheduling.
Some twitter users, who are probably associates of those affected, took to their accounts to complain about the sack, blaming it on complaints over delay in salary payment.
One of them @aviationinNGA, whose handle created a long thread from the screen shots of other complainants on the matter, alleged that that company was planning to hire expatriates in their place.
“It’s alleged that a certain airline in Nigeria fired 6 pilots of its pilots because they complained about late payment of salaries and supposed airline is about to hire expats.
“We did our findings on the alleged Airline, it’s sad for the public to know that the alleged Airline is Azman Air. @AzmanAir was contacted to clarify but debunked the claims. Cc @NigerianCAA @aibnigeria @hadisirika @fmaviationng kindly get involved.
“An airline in Nigeria woke up and decide to fire 6 pilots for no particular reason but they ‘re about to hire expats o.
” I’m hurt. You fired young promising men because they complained about late payment of salaries. Why are we like this, why do we find joy in messing people up”, the verified twitter handles read.
Those learnt were sacked by the company include Captain Jibrin Saidu, Captain Abdulkarim Abubakar, Captain Jika Keghtor, First Officer Shehu Jibrilla Umar, First Officer Ibrahim Isa Musa and First Officer Bello Garba.
Others affected are Isa Yamta Cabin Service Manager/Trainer, Account Officer Abuja Station as well as two ticketers at the Abuja station.
Meanwhile, the managing director of Azman Air, Alhaji Faisal Abdulmunaf, who just sent in his response to the matter on Monday, confirmed the sack and blamed it on the impact of COVID-19.
While lamenting the decision, he said the sector is terribly impacted, adding that companies at these times cannot do without downsizing or rightsizing.
“Unfortunately the news is true, Aviation sector is terribly affected globally by Covid-19, There is need to downsize and right size for airlines to survive, as we battle with the second wave of the Pandemic. The decision was not easy but necessary to navigate through the current global economic challenges. We do hope and pray that the impact does not last longer than anticipated, so that we can have all our Planes and Pilots flying again” , he said.
