Former workers at the NICON Airways that stopped operations in May 2007 have appealed to Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, their employer and Chairman of the airline, to pay their accrued salaries and allowances following various court rulings in their favour.
They also appealed to public-spirited Nigerians and civil society organisations to compel Ibrahim, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to do the needful.
The staff in a statement urged Ibrahim to obey court order and pay without further delay as many of their colleagues had died with their families and dependants suffering untold hardship.
According to them, the airline’s management brought flight operations to an abrupt end without the knowledge of staff, and without paying accrued salaries and benefits until they took the matter to the Federal High Court, Ikoyi in 2008 to compel the management to pay their entitlements.
The narrated: “We were directed to National Industrial Court, Abuja. With that began our relentless efforts to claim our rights in suit No: NCN/LA/192/2011.
“After two years, precisely 16 September, 2013, judgement was given in favour of ex-NICON staff. The defendant appealed this judgement at the same court and lost again in 23 May 2017, in suit No:NICN/ABJ/280/m/2014.
“Not satisfied again with the judgement, the debtor approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja judicial division on two occasions and lost on 16th February, 2021, and the most recent one 15th May 2023, respectively.
“Till date, the respondent has not deemed it fit enough to pay us our legitimate and hard earned money, over-due entitlements and allowances in the form of salaries, pegged by National Industrial Court from May 2007 to April, 2011.
“In the face of harsh economic realities in Nigeria today, more suffering and deprivation have been unleashed on EX-NICON Airways staff, and to avoid further deaths, urgent steps are needed to avert disastrous consequences looming right now.”
