NAHCO Upgrades Workers’ Welfare Pay

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company plc (nahco aviance) has upgraded the welfare package of its workers, THISDAY has learnt.

According to sources familiar with the development, the increment was one of the high points of the resolutions of the Board which met on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Another outcome of the meeting was the voluntary resignation of the MD/CEO, Mr. Norbert Bielderman, who told the Board that he needed time to take care of his health in his native Netherlands.

With the increment, our correspondent over the weekend gathered that staff members on ‘D’ scale, the lowest cadre in the company, would receive as much as between 10 to 15 per cent, depending on the step; while staff on ‘C’ scale would receive eight per cent increase. Supervisors on ‘B’ scale would receive six per cent increase while Managers on ‘A’ grade will receive four per cent salary increase. Senior Managers will get anything between two or three per cent depending on the level of seniority.

The Chairman of the Board of the Company, Arc Usman Arabi Bello met with workers unions after the meeting to break the news to them. The Unions’ officials reportedly thanked the Board for the gesture while promising to communicate the decision to their members.

The Manager, Corporate Communications and Services, nahco aviance, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye, when contacted by THISDAY, confirmed the story. He however said the Human Resources unit of the company was still working out the details and that once this was done, a full press statement would be issued.

On a report that some lower cadre workers were still not happy with the increment as announced, Ajakaye said such a report was speculative and that everyone knows that Nigeria’s economy is still in recession, and so for any employer to have increased workers’ salary at this time, such an employer deserves praise and not condemnation.

Although he said he cannot rule out the hands of mischief makers in such a situation, he nonetheless challenged our reporter to feel free to contact any nahco staff member on the development as he was sure majority of them appreciate board and management’s gesture on the salary raise.