Airlines break ranks, agitate over N4bn bailout funds sharing formula
By Peace Busari
After much yearning and clamour, the Federal Government of Nigeria’s N4billion COVID-19 palliatives to the airline subset of the aviation industry has arrived but not without intrigue as it seems some airlines may have received the said bailout funds while others are yet to get, a situation, further deepening the crack among the airlines.
Some airlines with valid Air operators Certificate (AOC) are alleging that they have been sidestepped in the disbursement of the funds even after meticulously following the process and submitting their request for the funds and are agitated about the unorthodox 70-30 sharing formula which has popped up without recourse to them.
Recall that during the height of the COVID-19 when airlines were forced to stop all operations, Federal government agreed on palliatives to cushion the effects of the industry being one of the worst hit but provisions were made that for airlines to access such palliatives they needed to have a functional AOC.
However, functioning operators are of the opinion that the process has been hijacked as information making rounds is that leadership of the AON, without recourse to their membership somehow arrived at 70-30 per cent ratio which is causing the tear to expand.
An operator under the condition of anonymity said that the AON Board of Trustees (BOT) and the executive numbering 10, had disagreed some days back over the sharing of N3 billion to some scheduled operators out of the N4 billion released.
Nigerian NewsDirect confirmed that most charter operators including who have valid AOC are yet to get anything from the funds and seem to be amiss as to what is actually happening.
Director of Press, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu who spoke on the matter explained the Ministry’s position stating that the bailout has been disbursed and it will go to airlines with functioning AOCs but is not aware of the finer details.
He said in a telephone conversation, “What I can confirm at this time is that it was released to individual airlines, the consideration is for individual airlines and airlines that have AOC .”
On whether charters were included he said, “I can’t confirm that but charter operators are also airlines let me confirm.”
Speaking to our correspondent, a source said the process could have been handled more professionally to avoid the controversies it is generating among airlines as a list of qualified candidates should have been put out by the Ministry in charge so everyone knows who is qualified instead of shrouding the process in secrecy and creating doubt.
Our correspondent also reached out to some airlines in a bid to get clarity and the bigger picture but as at the time of publishing there has been no response to text sent or calls made.
