The Senate on Wednesday condemned the frequent cancellation and disruption of flights by airlines operating in Nigeria without adequate compensation to passengers.
The condemnation followed a motion titled, Frequent Cancellation of Scheduled Flights by Airlines in Nigeria moved by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin and seven others.
The motion was seconded by Senator Olorunmimbe Mamora.
The Senate also directed relevant agencies of the government to ensure that adequate compensation was paid to passengers who were denied boarding.
It directed its committee on aviation to immediately come up with proposals for amending the Civil Aviation Act 2006 to include provisions for compensation for passengers denied boarding and specific sanctions on airlines perpetrating these acts.
Earlier, the Senate had observed with dismay, the increasing rate of cancellation of scheduled flights by Nigerian airlines in various airports across the country.
The Senate Leader said the frequent cancellations violated section 71 (1) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006.
This states, �The Authority shall formulate schemes for payment of suitable compensation by carriers to passengers who are denied boarding, in specific circumstances, on flights from Nigeria to any point outside Nigeria, or on flights within Nigeria, for which they have confirmed reservation, or for any other kind of passenger grievances which in the opinion of the Authority, have assumed significant level of public dissatisfaction.�
Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba said the motion was timely and should be supported because Nigerian airlines were becoming infamous for their acts of disrespect for passengers.
He recalled a personal experience: �I wish to draw your attention to the internationalisation of this bad practice. I had the misfortune of abandoning my South African flight to join Virgin Nigeria.
�They left us for four hours after returning to South Africa we waited for our luggage for two hours, when they showed up we discovered that most of them had been tampered with.�
Senator Nimi Barigha Amange also complained that he missed the opportunity to join his colleagues in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at the weekend because his flight was cancelled adding, �Up till now, my ticket money has not been returned.�
Meanwhile, the Senate deferred the confirmation of two out of the 14 members nominated to the Federal Civil Service Commission.
The representative of Akwa-Ibom/Cross Rivers, Obong Uwah and that of Benue/Nasarawa/Plateau states, Mrs. Sarah Chundung Dokotri, were those affected. Opposition from some of the affected states was given as the reason for the action.
The Punch