Senate Committee Chairman to receive NUATE award

Aviation Nigeria

The National Union of Air Transport Employees NUATE have selected Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation Senator Hope Uzodinma for an award in excellence and grand patron to the sector.

Acting general secretary of NUATE comrade Abdulkareem Motajo said the union decided to honour Senator Uzodinma for intervening in labour related issues that would have crippled the industry.

“Awards will be given to individuals and personalities that have contributed to the welfare of workers in one way or the other through their interventions and contributions to the aviation sector especially in areas that would have set management of agencies against the union” Motajo said.

The award is to be issued during the union’s Quadrennial Delegate’s Conference to be held in Lagos. According to Comrade Motajo, over 300 delegates from various airports across the country will converge on Abuja for the conference.

Other awardees include Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Theodre Orji of Abia State and airlines. 

NUATE accounts for close to 80% of the total workforce of the aviation sector in the country. 

Aviation unions shelve strike action

Aviation Nigeria

An intended strike action by two industrial unions of the aviation sector has been shelved aside.

This was made known in a press release by the Special Adviser to the Honorable Minister of Aviation, Joe Obi.

Members of The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) who had planned embark on a strike action, withdrew their decision after consultations earlier today.

The decision reached by the Union on shelving the strike action followed the outcome of a meeting convened in Abuja by heads of both unions with the Honorable Minister of Labor and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu and the management of National Airspace Management Agency(NAMA).

The union leaders presented issues which they claimed necessitated the intended strike action, however the Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity maintained that they had not been properly notified by the unions.

Resolutions were reached and jointly signed by the national presidents of both unions and Directors of NAMA, NATCA and FAAN as well as the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity.

NAMA workers to begin warning strike on Friday

Aviation Nigeria

Workers of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA), on Wednesday, announced plans to embark on one-day warning strike on February 22.

The workers are making this complain under the umbrella of the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).

The strike is to be embarked over alleged non-implementation of the new salary structure  introduced by  the agency, which the workers have demanded to be implemented.

Addressing newsmen at the NAMA headquarters in Lagos, Benjamin Okewu, National President, ATSSSAN, explained that workers of the agency across the nation would embark on a warning strike to drive home their demand.

“We affirm categorically that failure on the part of NAMA management to implement the approved salary structure is an invitation to industrial crisis,” he said.

"The workers of NAMA, therefore, unequivocally call on NAMA management to immediately and comprehensively implement the reviewed/adjustment of the salary structure of the agency dated Aug. 13 2012.” Okewu added.

He noted that the implementation of the salary would guarantee the welfare of workers, enhance productivity and performance of the agency.

NAMA MD stresses need for Industrial Harmony.

By Lateef Lawal.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA), Engr. Nnamdi Udoh has called for a team work between the unions and the management so as to move the industry forward.Speaking at the joint meeting of the NUATE/NAMA branch chairmen /secretaries held in Lagos said, NAMA has continue to forge ahead in spite of all criticisms based on solid foundation and focused management.

Engr. Udoh explained that the era of unions banging tables to settle issues was over adding that issues were settle at the table strategically and urged them to embrace technology.He called on the unions to wade into the wages commission in order to give workers sense of direction adding that the only way forward was to find alternative source of funding of NAMA.

The NAMA boss explained that workers will get their salaries as at when due as it was the right of the workers to get their dues.Engr.  Udon reiterated that automation will never lead to job losses in his agency adding that he will not be party to signing any dismissal letter of any of his workers.He said N34 million was set aside every month to meet workers pressing needs as a result of the management response to workers plight and warned against frivolous requests from workers.

The President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees NUATE Comrade Safiyanu Mohammed said the union was not having any misunderstanding with the management of NAMA adding that there was break in communication between the duos.Comrade Mohammed cautioned branch executives against discussing national issues with management as it was the responsibility of the national body.In his address, the Coordinating

chairman of NUATE NAMA, Comrade Ade Adekoya noted that the challenges facing the aviation industry was utmost in priority and urged the unions to see the need to work together to move the industry forward.While commending the release of NAMA workers promotion for 2011 and 2012 which has led to the payment of

backlog of staff claims, Adekoya lamented that the correct version of the condition of service and salary structure could not be assessed which has led to anxiety and coded furry among workers of the agency.

Adekoya commended the NAMA management for regularizing casual workers as permanent staff in the organization expressing the hope that the workers regularization will add new impetus to the efficient and effective service delivery in the agency.He appealed to the management of NAMA to correct the embarrassing contradictions and perplexing ambiguities in the salary chart approved by the national income salaries and wages and ensure its implementation by November 2012.Adekoya also stressed the need for the update and development of workers skills by regularly exposing them to the best practices to be prepared for not only to cope with the demands of today’s environment but also face unprecedented future.Other challenges enumerated by the chairman include, life insurance, pension matters, airmen allowances, airlines indebtedness among others.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

   

Unions Hail Zero-Tariffs on Aircraft Importation.

By Lateef Lawal

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria [ATSSSAN] and the National Union of Air Transport Employees [NUATE] have commended the government on the zero per-cent tariff on aircraft and spare parts importation announced by President Jonathan in his budget presentation to the National Assembly. Comrade Benjamin Okewu, National President of [ATSSSAN] while praising President Jonathan for the waivers on aircraft and spare parts importation said, it has provided a golden opportunity for airline operators in the country to bring in aircraft that can stand the test of time.

Comrade Okewu said, it was also an opportunity for the operators to re-fleet their aircraft and cut down their  fares, pull resources together and source for one digit loan from the international financial organizations to bring in economical machines that will enhance the air transport system in the country. 

“For airline operators especially those that are still in operation should capitalize on this noble opportunity to re fleet their aircraft. In doing that, they must take into consideration the routes that they are flying. The route must determine the type of the aircraft to be brought in”  Okewu noted that, tariffs has been the major constraints
on the parts of the airline operators especially in the last five years when it became very obvious that local airlines were on the verge of going down as a result of high tariffs on parts which led to calls by the unions to grant  waivers to the aviation sector.

The ATSSSAN boss lamented, that cartel has hijacked the oil sector making it very difficult to have JET A1 refined in the country at the detriment of the airlines adding that, aviation fuel accounted for about forty percent of the running cost of an airline. He called for the building of dedicated refineries for JET A1 as aviation has continued to play a vital role in driving the economy.

”As a stop gap measure, government should instruct the NNPC to specifically produce the required quantity that were needed in the country”
On the approved construction of five new international airports by the federal government, Comrade Okewu was optimistic that, the long awaited plans agitated for have gradually started taking off describing it as a good omen.
Comrade Mohammed Safiyanu, national president of NUATE in his reaction to the removal of tariffs on aircraft and spare parts importation, said the union and the Airlines Operators of Nigeria [AON] have long agitated
for this removal.

According to Safiyanu, airline operators have argued that the cost of importation of aircraft and its parts have been responsible for the high cost of fares adding that the zero tariffs will go a long way in crashing air fares on the domestic routes. The NUATE president however called on the government to look into the possibility of refining petroleum products in the country especially the JET A1 in order to bring the down the airfares in the country.
“We saying that all the refineries must be made to work and refine these products in the country especially JET A1. This will make more people to fly instead of going by road” Comrade Safiyanu said.

On the five new airports approved for construction by the government, the union leader said it was a good development if only the existing ones can be maintained along with the construction of the new
international ones. Comrade Safiyanu advised that work on going at the old airports should not be abandoned while constructing the new terminals and expressed the hope that there was hope for the country’s aviation sector.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.