In the wake of covid-19 which adversely affected the  Nigerian aviation sector, in other to remain afloat,Air Peace relieved 69 pilots of their job. .But,following the intervention of the Minister of Aviation,Senator Hadi Sirika,most of them were recalled.

Industry sources alleged that,the chairman of Air Peace,Chief Allen Onyema is said to have prevail on other Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) not to employ the pilots he had relieved of their job based on Memorandum of Understanding (MOU )with the Airline Operators.

Meanwhile,Azman Air,one of the domestic airlines in Nigeria has sacked some of its pilots on November 6,2020 and also criminalized them by instructing fellow Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) not to employ them.

National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) the umbrella body of all pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers in Nigeria has taking the matter to the regulatory agency ,the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

In a letter title “Unlawful Sacking of Nigerian Pilots by Azman Airlines ‘Management signed by Umoh Ofomine,Deputy General Secretary,NAAPE said it find such action provocative, callous and unacceptable to us.

“A situation where pilots are forced to work under atmosphere of fear and intimidation is nothing but a recipe for breach of safety and security of the airspace.”

Speaking from Zaria,NAAPE National President,Abednego Galadima said the refusal of other airlines to employ pilots sacked by Air Peace and Azman Air is unconstitutional and anti trust law.