Former Dana Air employees carrying placards gathered at the Dana Group headquarters on Oshodi-Isolo expressway to protest their abrupt termination.
The placards bore messages such as: “7 aircraft, only one serviceable,” “Pension deductions not remitted for 16 years,” “Our demands: outstanding pensions, outstanding taxes since 2008,” and “Pay our pensions since 2008.”
The ex-employees, who began their peaceful protest at the Dana office at 6 a.m., demanded the full payment of their entitlements, including their April and May salaries and their contributory pensions.
They claimed that, despite working for the airline since its inception, their deducted pensions were never remitted.
Gloria Okonkwo, one of the former staff members, expressed that they were in a mourning mood due to their dedication to the airline through good and bad times, only to be laid off via a WhatsApp message without further communication.
“We need our money because we have not been paid our April salary, pensions, and entitlements. We are only here because we need our money, April salary, our one month in lieu of notice, and our entitlements. For someone who has worked for 15 years, I need to be settled,” said Okonkwo.
Another ex-employee, Magdalene Onyukwu, lamented the lack of communication from the management regarding their entitlements since they received the WhatsApp message about their termination.
Onyukwu, who had been with Dana since its inception and contributed to obtaining the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), expressed frustration at the abrupt dismissal.
“We received no communication. Suddenly, we were told on social media that all Dana staff had been sacked, and later we got letters via email or WhatsApp. How can you inform employees of their termination via WhatsApp? It is not done anywhere. We are disgruntled and asking for our benefits, gratuity, and pensions that have been collected over the years,” she said.
Recently, the airline management in a statement says, an ongoing operational audit initiated by regulatory authorities has prompted them to temporarily disengage some staff members.
This decision, it says was made to ensure efficient resource management and facilitate a thorough review of operational procedures.
According to the statement, they are collaborating with the authorities to ensure compliance with all necessary standards and regulations.
The airline expressed appreciation to all staff members for their resilience and dedication during this period of uncertainty and assured them that efforts are being made to resolve the situation promptly.
The management called for calm and understanding from its dedicated staff and stakeholders, emphasizing their commitment to addressing concerns and preparing a restart plan for safe and efficient resumption of operations.
Dana Air is confident that with continued support, it will overcome these challenges and emerge stronger.
