‘BPE, not SAHCO responsible for ex-workers’ benefits’

The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) at the weekend clarified that it was not responsible for the payment of benefits of the former workers of the company.

The company’s clarification came against the backdrop of last week’s protest by the workers, giving the company and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) seven days to pay their entitlements.

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But SAHCO in a statement by its Manager, Corporate Communications, Mrs Adetola Vanessa Uansohia, explained that there was an agreement between the federal government and SAHCO that the benefits of the ex-workers would be borne by the former through the BPE.

It also refuted the claim that SAHCO was in crisis due to the agitation by the ex-workers.

The statement read: “In a meeting which had in attendance the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises(BPE) and the Chairman of SAHCO, BPE resolved that the benefits of the ex- staff of SAHCOL would be borne by the Government, through the BPE and not SAHCO. The DG however promised to meet with the Union for further negotiations.

“It should be noted that SAHCO was officially listed as a PLC in 2018, and while BPE was handing over SAHCO to the Stock Exchange, these benefits were not part of the liabilities handed over.

“Hence, SAHCO is not responsible for the payment.”

The ground handling firm noted that since SAHCO, an arm of the defunct Nigeria Airways, was bought over by Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman of SIFAX Group from the federal government, its fortune has greatly improved.

According to him, the new SAHCO has improved “with a huge influx of ultramodern equipment, building of the best warehouses in West Africa, massive employment of manpower and intense training which has made SAHCO a pride amongst one of the best organisations in Nigeria to work with.”