Passengers stranded as unions ground AriK over alleged N12.5b debt

Protesters under the aegis of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) picketed Nigeria’s flag carrier airline, Arik.
arik
Protesters, numbering over a hundred persons had stormed the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and successfully grounded the operations of the airline over claim that the carrier owe over N1b to the various aviation agencies.
They equally accused the airline of owing workers upward of five months.
General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) Comrade Olayinka Abioye  in his statement made said that, ’We are engaged in picketing exercise against Arik Air over its indebtedness to FAAN in the sum of N12.5b”
The unions’ shutdown the airlines operations this morning after year’s long negotiations have been crippled with them stating that the airline is feigning ignorant to its debt while refusing to pay
The grounding of the airline led to stranding of passengers at various airports across the country and one that may lead to the dislocation of travel plans of many passenger, considering the fact that the airline has the biggest domestic market share.
Woleshadare.net write that the terminal was desolate during and after the protest as many who had been booked on Arik flights had to seek an alternative while many others went back home.
The airline is yet to comment on the disruption of its operations as this has been a recurring issue between the airline and the unions who have traded accusations and counter accusations over the exact amount the airline is said to owe various aviation agencies.
 
Details….Later
Wole Shadare