May 01, (THEWILL) – A key aviation union in the country, has called on the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to urgently review his Aviation Roadmap.
According to the union, they are of the view that the projects under the Roadmap require significant adjustments to harmonise them with current realities in the world of aviation and our national interest.
Comrade Ben Nnabue, National President, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), who made the call on Sunday, in his May Day speech also called on the Federal Government to urgently address the serious shortcomings of the newly commissioned international terminal at MMIA, so as to put the terminal to use.
He warned that, it will be a major disservice of this administration, should the terminal turn out to be a white elephant.
“This must be avoided at all cost. As this is the season of national politicking, I want to urge all workers not to slack or be complacent. To do so will attract a heavy price of allowing those with less stake enthrone governments at all levels which may be anti-workers. For this reason, I seriously charge you all to take advantage of ongoing voters’ registration to ensure each of you is armed with your voters’ card, ready to perform your civic responsibility of voting at all the forthcoming elections.”
Nnabue reminded that the twin big issues of Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustment and Conditions of Service for the aviation Agencies are currently raging.
He reiterated that NUATE stands firmly by the decision of workers not to accept continuing shifting of the goal post by government agencies on these issues.
Stating further, the President emphasised that they are unsatisfied with ongoing discussions around the big question of airports concession.
He said, “We are unclear as to the government’s actual response to demands of aviation unions on labour issues and many lapses in the concession program. In the coming weeks, important decisions will be made to chart a clear path towards ameliorating already stated demands of workers.”
In like manner, we express our frustration at the dilly-dallying attitude of the BPE in attending to the negotiated redundancy benefits of ex-staff of SAHCO, a matter pending since 2009. Let me assure the affected ex-workers that the unions have gone so far and cannot retreat on the matter at this point. We are at the verge of final solution, failing which we shall take decisive actions towards seeking justice for the victims.”
Nnabue also stated that the union is presently battling the vexed issue of back catering by some foreign airlines, adding that NUATE is definitely committed to seeing an end to the unwelcomed act in the interest of local in-flight catering services companies
Announcing the possibility of an industrial action, the labour leader said, “I use this opportunity to charge all aviation workers to prepare for a mother strike action against Caverton Helicopters at a date to be shortly announced.”
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
