Reps summon Amaechi, Virgin Atlantic management over sack of Nigerian cabin crew

House of Representatives on Thursday summoned Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, and management of Virgin Atlantic over the recent sack of over 100 Nigerians workers employed by the airline.

The resolution was passed following the adoption of the motion sponsored by Femi Gbajabiamila, majority leader, who expressed displeasure over the sack of all Nigerian cabin crewmembers employed by the company.

“We should remind them that wherever they may be right now, that the company, Virgin Atlantic was licensed under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and therefore must be subjected to the laws and authorities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Gbajabiamila said.

Gbajabiamila, who stressed the need for public and private agencies operating in Nigeria to comply with the resolutions of the parliament as well as various extant laws of the land, urged the House to take necessary steps to enforce its authority on the motion by ensuring that the minister of transport/aviation and chief executive and management of Virgin Atlantic appear and clear the issues within the next 48 hours.

On his part, Leo Ogor, minority leader, who raised point of order 57(6) noted that “it shall be out of order to consider attempt to re-consider any specific question upon which the House has come to a conclusion during the current session except upon a substantive motion for rescission.”

To this end, he noted that since the House had discussed and agreed on the motion, he stressed the need for the minister to set machinery in motion to address the issue without further delay.

Also, Shehu Shagari, who noted that the resolution was the first for the House, argued that the issue should not be handled with levity.

While ruling, Speaker Yakubu Dogara however ruled that the motion on Virgin Atlantic was a different issue of urgent national importance, hence should be treated with utmost speed since it had happened.

Credit: Bussiness Day