Airlines and service providers in the aviation industry can heave a sigh of relief on this May Day celebration as the Federal Government assures of support as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika gave the indication in his message to celebrate workers day, saying that Government will do everything possible to mitigate the consequences of the lockdown on the industry due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press in the Ministry, James Odaudu, the Minister says the government is aware of the dire situation in the aviation sector and is ready to create an enabling environment for the sector to bounce back.
According to the Minister of Aviation, workers in the aviation industry were among the hardest hit economically by the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world, especially with the grounding of passenger flights and shutting down of services globally.
He however expresses the belief that there is a bright future for the Nigerian aviation industry after the dark times that it presently faces, hoping that the pandemic will be short-lived.
“It is highly regrettable that airlines and other service providers are being forced to cope with the option of either sending their staff on compulsory leaves or reduction of their wages as occasioned by the redundancy caused by COVID-19 scourge.”
Senator Sirika however appeals to both private and public workers in the sector to keep hope alive as there are reasons to believe that the industry will come out of the current situation stronger, and in a better situation to improve the welfare of its employees.
“Those in the aviation sector have received a heart-warming assurance of better days ahead in spite of the current hardship caused by the coronavirus-induced shutdown of the industry.”
