Reps to investigate airlines’ grievance on Covid-19 palliatives disbursement

The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation will look into the complaints by airline operators and other stakeholders on the handling of COVID-19 aviation palliatives, the committee chairman, Honourable Nnolim Nnaji has said.

Honourable Nnaji in a statement stressed that the avalanche concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the matter were too weighty to be ignored.

He disclosed that the House Committee on Aviation has resolved to demand from the Ministry of Aviation the detailed disbursement of the intervention fund.

The essence is not to witch hunt anybody but to clear every doubt over the disbursements. We want to know the detailed disbursements, airline by airline, the parastatals under the ministry and other organizations.”

The chairman noted that the committee was quite aware of the challenges facing the industry due to the COVID-19 impact and the genuine concerns expressed by the Honourable Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika on the need for the Federal Government’s palliative to the industry.

Some airline operators, he said, had complained that despite being asked to submit their details—which they did—are yet to get a response.

They also alleged that the ministry was doing selective disbursements and that the exercise lacked transparency and urged the committee to investigate it.

Honourable Nnaji assured that though the House had already adjourned for Easter holidays, the committee will cut short its break to look into the matter because of the critical role of aviation in the overall economy of the country.