Aviation unions protest appointment of GM in aviation parastatals

Aviation workers unions under the auspices of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, (NUATE) , the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria, (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, (NAAPE) Thursday protested at the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos over what the called the appointment of an outside as the general manager of finance for FAAN.
The unions noted that the appointment of an outsider by the federal government for positions meant for carrier civil servants despite earlier assurances by the minister of state for aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika is unacceptable by the unions.
They made their position known during a peaceful protest at the FAAN headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and kicked against the appointment of the general manager of the finance from outside the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN
Speaking during the protest, the general secretary of NUATE, Mr. Olayinka Abioye said the minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, had earlier assured the unions that outsiders would not be given positions meant for career civil servants in the sector.
According to him: “After a critical analysis of the appointment, we have observed that there was an error in bringing in an outsider to head the department of finance, FAAN, and we are saying no to such appointment.
The position he is being given is a career position and the minister has already told us that he doesn’t want outsiders to come and hijack any position in FAAN,” Abioye said.
He said the unions are studying other political appointments made in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB.
“We have found some errors in those appointments and at the appropriate time, we will react even though the government has the prerogative power of appointment into any directorate level.
We are going to communicate our position in writing to the minister because if this industry must move forward, only capable persons who have the prerequisite experiences should be given appointments,” he said.
Also speaking, general secretary of NAAPE, Mr Aba Ocheme stated that the issue of bringing in outsiders was demoralising for workers who had put in many years only to be denied their legitimate aspirations.
He maintained that this development will only make workers less productive and stunt the growth of the aviation industry in the country.
On his part, the president of ATSSSAN, Mr Ilitrus Ahmadu observed that the situation is unfortunate where career civil servants are not given the opportunity to challenge those coming in from outside for such positions via written tests.
“They need to prove that they are better than the people already on ground and that they deserve the jobs but unfortunately that has not been the case,” Ahmadu said.