Overbloated workforce, not good for aviation industry-Mshelia
By Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo
Over bloated workforce in the aviation sector may lead to economic and safety problems Capt Ibrahim Mshelia, Chairman of West Link Airlines Limited who spoke at Providence Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos after receiving an Award of Excellence under Nigeria’s Aviation Hall of Fame, held during the launch of a book titled Nigeria’s Aviation: Unsung Heroes & Heroines, co-authored by Wole Shadare and Gboyega Adeoye, noted that Nigeria’s aviation manpower has not been properly managed, stating that overloading an aviation outfit “with people who have no business being there”, causes economic and safety problems for the industry.
He said: “Aviation is not a Father Christmas business. Until we really take the bull by the horns and begin to run aviation the way we are supposed to, we may not get it right. It shouldn’t be just because I am a House of Representatives Member, Senator or Governor, I should give my brother or sister a job in aviation. No! Aviation is for trained professionals and is supported by about 10% support staff”.
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He noted that the manpower has not been well managed properly in the industry as those in authority failed to listen to the voice of professionals that have been in business for decades “We have not managed the manpower in aviation properly. We are where we are because we have refused to listen to voices like mine, telling us that it is only people who have business in aviation that should be there”.
Mshelia noted that the 40,000 employees in aviation was not going to help the system as their salaries were being paid from funds generated from airlines and support services such as handling companies that have to generate this money from people flying into Nigeria.
“That’s why we are buying tickets higher than anywhere else because if I am flying into your country and I have to pay so much to fly in and out. That’s why Nigerians pay more on tickets.”
He remarked that the foreign exchange starvation was not the problem saying that foreign exchange starvation was all over the place but that of Nigeria was magnified by the fact that they have stubbornly refused to accept professional advice by overloading an outfit with people who have no business there.
