Expatriate quota: FG to sanction erring airlines

In view of the ongoing security threat across the country, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation, has commenced investigations into the use of foreign pilots to carry out aerial survey and mapping of state boundaries through the airspace by some state governments and  organisations.
This development has been attributed to what key players in the aviation sector described as the dangerous subsequent effect such action portends to the safety of the country’s airspace.
The key players had reasoned that using foreigners to carry out such  sensitive role  exposes the country’s territory  to them who might , as a result, unleash attack on the country.
In view of this, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah- Ogienwonyi, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune through her special assistant on media, Joe Obi, said investigation was ongoing while appropriate sanctions would be meted out to anybody or firm found  compromising the nation’s security and its airspace.
This development came even as the minister ordered investigations into the abuse of the country’s expatriate quota policy by airlines. Against this backdrop, any airline found wanting may loose its licence as the minister said she would not hesitate to revoke the licence of an erring airline.
According to her: “Nigeria is a country governed by laws and all companies, whether foreign or local, must play by the rules. There is no reason the expatriate quota laws of the country should be allowed to be violated by anybody.
“In the event that any infraction has been committed, the culprits would be made to face full sanctions. The minister will also not hesitate to revoke the license of any foreign airline that fails to comply with expatriate quota laws and regulations of Nigeria.”
It will be recalled that different organisations  had accused some carriers of violating Federal Government’s expatriate quota policy.
Some airlines had been accused of filling departments like marketing, human resources, commercials, dispatch crew scheduling, catering and technical stores  with foreigners, an attitude described as unfair to experienced Nigerians who are presently in the labour market.(Nigerian Tribune)