Senate directs Aviation Minister to halt planned demolition of agencies’ offices
By Tunde Opalana
The Senate has directed the Minister of Aviation , Senator Hadi Sirika to put on hold, planned demolition of offices and headquarters of some agencies under the supervision of the Ministry in Lagos.
He was asked to halt the planned demolition pending outcome of intervention being made by the Senate Committee on Aviation.
The directive followed a motion moved by chairman of the committee, Senator Biodun Olujimi ( PDP Ekiti South)) , on urgent need of Senate intervention on the intending warning strike by Aviation unions .
In the motion, she called the attention of the Senate to intending warning strike by the Union of Air Transport Employees , Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria , Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals , National Association of Aircrafts Pilots and Engineers etc ,
Olujinmi noted that the strikes have become too many and too frequent to be let low as issues in contention are not new some of which according to her , have lingered for over eight years with several agreements signed between the unions and government but not honoured.
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The Committee chairman pointedly stated that continuous threats of outright demolition of the Aviation agencies ( FAAN, NCAA and NAMA Headquarters ) in Lagos by the Ministry without making reasonable provisions for befitting alternative offices , is making the affected unions to fight back through strike actions.
She therefore urged the Senate to intervene in the matter by mandating its committee to interface with all stakeholders for possible way out of the crisis.
After exhaustive debate on the motion , the Senate mandated its committee on Aviation , chaired by Senator Olujimi , to organize round table discussion with all parties involved in the crisis .
Specifically , the President of the Senate , Ahmad Lawan , in his remarks , said : “Aviation being the face of the country , must not be allowed to run into crisis .
“Our committee should intensify efforts towards nipping in the bud any action that may result into strike action by the aviation unions and also , prevent the unions from embarking on any strike action “
