Air traffic engineers reject new conditions of service
…Governor bemoans poor state of Kaduna airport
By Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo
The National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE), has rejected the recently released Condition of Service (COS) by the National Salaries, Income, and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for workers in the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA)
Arising from the exco meeting held over the weekend, NAAE expressed deep concern and disappointment regarding the released conditions of service (COS) of NAMA by the (NSIWC).
NAAE led by its national president, Engr Selzing Miri vehemently rejected the COS saying, it failed to capture their demands and concerns as engineers in the agency as negotiated with NAMA Management .
The engineers said it was a deliberate attempt to frustrate workers and cause industrial unrest in the system
“The exclusion of the reviewed professional allowances as negotiated and approved by NAMA Management in the released COS is not only unjust but viewed as a deliberate attempt to frustrate the commitment, enthusiasm, dedication and productivity of our members who tirelessly contribute to ensuring safe and efficient air traffic operations. We firmly believe that the omission of these allowances fails to acknowledge the immense contributions, responsibility, expertise, and risks associated with our profession”
NAAE noted that for over nine years, the issue of COS has been on the negotiating table with all relevant agencies for deliberations only for the authorities to come out with unfavorable document of COS describing it as disheartening and an attempt to dampen the morale of workers
The association noted that the salaries and wages commission expunge vital part of the document and released something different from what was negotiated with NAMA and did not reflect the agreement signed by unions and NAMA management sent to the wages and salaries commission
“It is disheartening to note that after over nine (9) years of waiting, dialogues and the negotiation between NAMA Management with the Unions that birth the submitted documents, the NSIWC has persistently strife to dampened the moral of our members and create an unhealthy working relationship within the agency”.
Meanwhile, the governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani has described as an eyesore the state of Kaduna airport saying that no aircraft has been landing there
Sani, who was on a visit to Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo’s office disclosed that the dilapidated condition of the Kaduna Airport, was nothing to write home about, “the airport is an eyesore, no aircraft is landing there at the moment, that’s why I had to make this trip to your office so we can know what to do”, the governor told the Minister.
The governor explained further that, anytime anyone is trying to fly into Kaduna, they see Kano airport as alternative or make use of the NAF Base or the Zaria airwings.
“Right now, I have spoken to Air Peace and United Airline on the possibility of resuming flight operations at the airport but we found out there’s a need to upgrade and improve some of the facilities for effective aeronautical services” the governor added.
The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Keyamo promised the governor of Kaduna State, of his resolve to improve the facilities at the Kaduna Airport.
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Keyamo promised to expedite action on the improvement of the Kaduna airport facilities, “coincidentally, I am planning a visit to one of my agencies in Zaria soon, the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology-NCAT and now, as a matter of urgency, I have to factor-in, the inspection of the Kaduna airport in the journey, it is very important that we make the Kaduna Airport fully operational because it is a good alternative to the Abuja airport should anything happen, so I am promising you that, I’ll give it priority in weeks to come”, the Minister promised.
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