ATSSAN, JCNC Task Minister on Uncompleted Projects, National Carrier, Others

The National President, Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), Comrade Benjamin Okewu, and his Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council (JCNC) counterpart, Mr. Hector Nnadi, have called on the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to complete all ongoing airport projects.

They also want the new Minister to provide watertight security and to fast track implementation of a road map for a sustained national carrier.

Speaking on the sideline of a capacity programme organised by JCNC, titled: Industrial Challenges in an Emerging Economy - The Aviation Sector in Focus, recently in Abuja, Okewu, argued security and safety can only be guaranteed at the airport when projects are not abandoned.

The ATSSAN boss said: “Aviation cannot survive with abandoned projects littered all over the airports. With the insurgents of Boko Haram, that kind of environment would become conducive for them to operate.

“Already the security operatives at the airports are working together though the synergy is not a water tight one yet. I want to advise that there should be constant sensitisations around the airports and that the passengers should be made to be security conscious.

He harped on the need for constant capacity building of aviation staff, adding the aviation sector has not been left out of the global economic challenges. Also, he said the retreat affords both the management and staff to make best use of the resources at their disposal.

On the slight changes in the sector, he said: “Like, we always say at the level of the union when there are changes, the union leaders are built with the capacity to absorb that change and work in line with the change for the benefit of the industry.”

He acknowledged that the issue which has to do with promotion he acknowledged that the recent strife between the union and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has been resolved amicably as the promotion examination has commenced without any hitch.

“Well if you are moving to new place in life there is always bound to be some problem, well aviation is one area of precision, and if we get feelers that decision taken might this precision, we are bound to be worried. But as union leaders, our aim is to sit with the leaders and management, and see how decision taken will not affect the precision that the industry requires.”

Okewu also said the sector cannot develop without a national carrier, “The aviation industry cannot develop to where we want it without the national carrier. No matter what anybody thinks we need a national and government must be ready to create the enabling environment for it to thrive and survive.”

In a remark, the Chairman, of Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council at the ministry, Comrade Hector Nnadi, said the retreat would assist the Ministry in boosting its manpower capability. He added that the council would align its manpower and strategy towards ensuring a leap forward in the present dispensation in boosting safety and security across the nation’s airports and allayed fears that the realignment of the Ministry under transport would affect JCNC activities.