COVID-19 palliative: Reps to investigate airlines’ complaints

The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has promised to investigate the complaints by airline operators and other stakeholders on the handling of COVID-19 aviation palliative.

The Chairman of the Committee, Nnolim Nnaji in a statement said 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.

According to him, 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 aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika on the need for 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, but up to date. Still no response.

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

Mr Nnaji assured that though the House had already adjourned for the 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.