Monica Ogwa
 
The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers NAAPE has shut down operation at the Bristow helicopter company in Port Harcourt over alleged discrimination and insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian pilots working for the company.
 
The National President of NAAPE Balami Isaac David alleged that foreign pilots with few years of experience are treated better than Nigerian counterparts who have over twenty years of experience.

 “Nigerian pilots and engineers are treated like slaves in their own country. A job that a Nigerian can do, they sack him and give it to a foreigner and pay him more. They have been sacking our pilots and employing foreigners.

We are even more competent than the foreigners. Today (yesterday), no helicopter of Bristow will fly until the Managing Director comes to answer us. We have also discovered that the management does not care about the welfare of workers. So, before it becomes a safety issue, they must come and hear us,” Balami said.