NAHCo repositions, sacks 300

Shola Adekola, Lagos - 13.04.2008

THE Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCo) has sacked 300 workers.

According to the Public Affairs Officer of the company, Demola Akinbola, the exercise was based on major changes in the company’s human capital deployment strategy, in order to render efficient services to its client airlines and ensure significant capital appreciation for its over 80,000 shareholders.

Akinbola, explained further: “The manpower re-structuring exercise is a phase in the process of NAHCo’s corporate re-positioning, which commenced with its privatisation in 2005 and the unfolding of a three-year (2007-2009) strategic business plan in 2006.

“Highlights of the business plan include, a review of operational processes, new equipment acquisition, staff re-orientation, human capital alignment, re-branding, and business expansion.

Already, NAHCo has spent over US$7million on the purchase of brand new equipment in the last one year, in addition to the opening of new stations to meet the increasing number and needs of customers.”

A senior management committee of the company negotiated and agreed with both the national and branch executives of the two workers’ unions, (Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) and National Union of Air Transport Workers (NUATE), on the criteria for the restructuring exercise, to ensure fairness and objectivity.