As the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority of (NCAA) continues its audit on Dana Air, following its recent serious incident at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, which led to the suspension of the airline on the directive of the Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister, Festus Keyamo, angry workers of the airlines today staged a peaceful protest at Dana House at Apapa–Oshodi Expressway to demonstrate tagainst their sack by the airline
As early as 7 am, angry workers of the airline converged at the front of the Dana House with placards singing solidarity songs and also dancing to the ever green music of the late Afro-Beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo Kuti with placards with various inscriptions depicting their travails and what the airline has done to them.
Some of the inscription, reads, “7 aircraft only one is serviceable , Dana Pay us our April and May Salaries, Jacky Jacky come out and speak to us, Expatriate not paid for three months and Pension fraud, pension fraud.”
Speaking to journalists, a staff of the airline, Gloria Okonkwo, said that the workers are at the airline’s office to protest the way the airline has treated them despite being with the airline for 15 years.
We are here because the airline stepped on us and we are crying. Most of us have put in 12, 13 and 15 years in Dana.”
She said that when they had that workers have been sacked, they thought it was a joke until they started receiving unsigned letters via WhatsApp.
She stated that as she speaks on the matter, Dana Air has not paid workers their April salary, wondering why the airline’s management will treat them like that.
She added that apart from their salaries, pensions, one month salary in lieu, and their entitlements have also not been paid, adding that Dana deducts workers’ pension every month, wondering why they are finding it difficult to pay.
Also speaking, Magdalene Onyukwu , stated that she was one of the staff who participated in the Demo flight to secure and commence flight operations in 2008.
Dana Air, she said has dedicated staff who stood by the airline despite the several challenges, even at a time when the airline could not pay salaries.
Onyukwu stated that the serious incident that happen,NCAA was bound to audit the airline and that it is expected but that the airline should not hide under that to treat its workers shabbily.
Speaking further, Onyukwu decried a situation where a corporate organisation will be communicating with its workers via WhatsApp.
“Which corporate organisation use WhatsApp to communicate with its workers in 21st century. No employer does that,” She asked.
“We are here to seek for justice and what belong to us,” Onyukwu said.
On his part, Eze Chidebere , an Aviation Security Supervisor, said the protest is to demand for their rights which the workers have worked for for several years.
According to him, “Our April salary have not been paid. My children are at home because I have not paid their school fee. Some of my colleagues are also in that same situation.”
Attempt made to reach out to Dana Air on its own side of the story proved abortive
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