Arik Air Sacks 300 Workers Over Covid-19 Impact

Arik Air has sacked 300 members of its staff over Covid-19 impact on the firm.

Arik disclosed the development on Friday in a statement titled “Arik Air management declares 300 staff redundant.”

Arik said, “Arising from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the constrained ability of the airline to complete heavy maintenance activities and return its planes to operations, stunted revenues against increasing operational costs, the management of Arik Air (In Receivership) has declared 300 staff members redundant to its current level of operations.”

The airline added it has notified the leadership of the impacted unions and was planning a package for the sacked workers through the aviation union.

Arik said, “The leaderships of the impacted unions have been contacted to negotiate a redundancy package for the affected staff. It is important to note that over 50 per cent of Arik Air’s workforce of over 1,600 staff have been on furlough in the past six months on a base allowance.”

Reacting to the development, the General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Ocheme Aba, said the union would discuss the package with the airline.

He said, “They have invited us to discuss the matter. We will listen to them. It is up to them to determine if workers are surplus to requirement. It is their right under the law. We will listen to their presentation on it and we will take it up from there. We are going for the meeting now at NCAA.”