Air Transport Employees march to Nigeria CAA

…rejects Dana Air’s proposed regional ops  from MMA 2

The air transport employees under the aegis of National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE conducted a solidarity rally to the operational Headquarters of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA in Lagos where it tabled concerned issues.

According to a statement from the  agency signed by  the General Manager Public Relations of the agency, Samuel Adurogboye, “Leading  the rally was the Deputy President of NUATE, Comrade Williams Ukah who listed issues of Training for Technical Staff, Autonomy,  Staff Claims, Airlines Indebtedness to NCAA  and the DANA Airlines request to commence a Regional Flight Operations from the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2 , MMA2.

The Unions urged the Authority not to accede to DANA request to operate a Regional Flight from the MMA2 so as not to incur the wrath of labour in the sector. The Unions hinged their position  on the ground that the request negate Aviation Security at the Terminal  and the agreement between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN and the operator of the Terminal.”

The union however applauded the Authority over  the amicable resolution of the issue of staff promotions and prompt payment of staff salaries and other emoluments at this time of the year.

Meanwhile, the  Director of Finance and Accounts, Alhaji Nuhu Ozigi on behalf of the Director General, Capt Usman Muhtar addressed the Unions and also received a letter addressed to the DG which was thereafter presented to the DG for management review.

Responding to some of the issues raised by the body, Ozigi stated that, as a regulatory body, issue of staff training and re-training (local or foreign) is  of utmost priority. But in compliance with budgetary regulatory policy of the Federal Government, foreign trainings for technical staff needs approval from the Head of Service of Federation through the Ministry and that the approval processes are ongoing.

He promised that the management would look into the issue of DANA request critically before taking a decision on it.

He however noted that some  technical staff from the critical sections of NCAA  are  currently at  the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT undergoing various relevant local trainings in line with International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) recommendations.

He also  disclosed that, while pensions and gratuities are not owed to any staff, modalities have been fashioned out on how to liquidate pending staff claims on a monthly basis, even though it might seem to be going fairly slowly.

On Airlines indebtedness in the face of government’s policy of,"debt recovery without disruption of flight operations", he said that NCAA has put in place an  aggressive and concerted efforts at debt recovery, more particularly, by local airlines.

  On Autonomy, Ozigi was of the view that  NCAA is not restricted in its regulatory oversight responsibilities in any way.