Senate to probe Emirates Airlines for employing 10 Nigerians

Senate President Bukola Saraki has revealed that the upper house of legislature will investigate why a foreign airliner operating in the country employed only 10 Nigerians.

Senate president Saraki says it is unfair of Emirates Airlines to employ just 10 Nigerians when elsewhere it employs more.

In a statement shared via series of tweets late on Friday, January 6, Saraki noted that the action of the company Emirates Airlines was unfair to Nigerians.

He however vowed to ensure that the anomaly is corrected as soon as possible.

Saraki said: “Today, I learnt that there are only 10 Nigerians employed in the entire Emirates Airlines workforce that operates in our country.

“I gathered that in countries like Kenya, Emirates Airlines employs close to 1000 Kenyans in their workforce.

"Considering the size of Nigeria and its market -- I would have expected more. Foreign airlines and companies need to hire more Nigerians.

"I am sure that at the time Emirates Airlines started their route, we did not get a good deal for our people. It is time to look into this.”

Emirates Airlines in Nigeria is set to be probed by Nigerian senate for employing very few citizens.

Saraki noted that not only Emirates will get probed over this, so would other foreign companies operating in Nigeria and are not employing enough Nigerians.

The former Kwara state governor vowed: “The Senate will work to ensure that foreign entities operating in the country hire more Nigerians. This is important for our domestic growth

“I wish the Senate Aviation Committee Chairman a speedy recovery. Once he's back there is work to do to address this airline employment issue

“It is important to address why only 10 Nigerian air host/hostesses work for Emirates. Companies operating in Nigeria must employ Nigerians.

“I encourage everyone out there with information that can help better the plight of Nigerians to let us know.”

Meanwhile, the federal government is facing a herculean task convincing local and foreign airline operators to temporarily move to the Kaduna Airport.

In an aviation stakeholders meeting convened on Thursday, January 5 by Captain Hadi Sirika, the minister of state for aviation, the airlines kicked against the federal government's decision to shut down the Nnamdi Azikiwe In­ternational Airport, Abuja, for repairs.