The federal government has promised to restructure Aero Contractor airline, which had announced the suspension of its operations and directed its workers to commence an indefinite leave, so that the workers would not lose their jobs.

Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika said this when he addressed protesting workers of the airline who occupied the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Friday.

Sirika said that government would make sure that the problems plaguing the airline were solved, adding that it was government’s responsibility to create jobs and therefore it would not allow business concerns die off under its watch.

The Minister said that he would meet with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, and the management of Aero Contractors and would get back to the workers on Monday.

“I landed from Riyadh to Lagos and before I left Riyadh I was informed by the people in charge in Aero that things were getting worse and that they had only one airplane operational at the moment.

“And since I have time before my connecting flight to Abuja, I decided to come and see Aero and probably discuss a few issues with the managers, and possibly see the staff.

“But unfortunately, I came here and saw that there is a protest going on, so I had to stop by, listened, discussed and came to an agreement,” the minister said.

Sirika added that “The primary purpose of government, especially this APC government is to help to promote, nurse, sustain, develop, keep businesses so that they can continue to provide services and employ our people.

“So, it is not the government of the APC that will kill jobs and close down shops; our intent is to promote jobs and promote businesses in Nigeria so that businesses will be growing.

He pointed out that the workers had the right to protest the loss of their jobs but assured them that government would resolve the issues concerning the airline in order to make it functional again.