By Ishaya Ibrahim and Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Barely two months after the lockdown of Nigeria’s airspace, the management of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has said that it is broke and can’t afford to pay its staff the full salaries for the month of May.
A memo dated May 19, 2020, and signed by the General Manager (Administration), MD Musa, said the decision was necessitated by the dwindling revenue which the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the aviation sector.
The memo read in part, “This is to notify all staff that due to the dwindling revenue generation amidst COVID-19 pandemic, management may not be able to pay full salary to staff as from May 2020.
“However, as soon as the revenue situation improves, the balance will be paid.
“This measure is to ensure the survival of the organisation.”
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had shut the country’s airspace and airports, both local and international in March as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
However, emergency flights such as those for medical and humanitarian purposes are allowed but with caution.
But the workers union disagreed with the management of FAAN, arguing that the agency, which generates almost N70 billion annually, could afford to pay workers full salaries if staff welfare was the priority.
TheNiche learnt that there is an ongoing meeting between the management of FAAN and the coalition of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) to resolve the impasse.
Details of the meeting are sketchy, but a source close to the meeting said the union may push for a higher number should the management insist on slashing salaries.
