By LAWANI MIKAIRU

The Joint Action committee of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, and National Union of Air Transport Employee, NUATE, have drawn the  attention of the public to what they alleged are offences of the  Aviation Minister, Princes Stella Oduah.

The unions alleged that the minister single-handedly concessioned the automation of “supposedly revenue collection of the parastatals under her ministry, without recourse to other agencies saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring international best practices.  “And  that their intervention saved the parastatals and indeed Nigeria about One hundred million US Dollar that would have been stolen by these elements.’’

But in a swift reaction, the Minister through her Special Assistant, Media,Mr Joe Obi debunked the allegations of the unions and said that the unions were consulted and were fully involved in the process of automation of revenue collection at the agencies.

According to Mr Obi, ‘’On the automation of revenue collection at the agencies, it is a huge lie, and in fact, mischievous on the part of the unions to insinuate that the Minister single-handedly ordered the exercise. To be sure, the unions were fully involved in series of meetings on the subject-matter after which they unanimously gave their endorsement to the initiative which, it must be re- emphasised is aimed at plugging the haemorrhaging  leakages in the system.’’

‘’ Mr Obi further said it is  false ‘’ that a certain $100 million dollars may have been saved through the intervention of the unions with respect to the automation procedure.’’

Stella Oduah, Aviation Minister

The unions raised alarm about what they call ‘’ invasion of the industry with men and women of various shades of doubtful characters who are being distributed like bread into offices which some of them are unfit, unprepared and unqualified to occupy.’’

Though they  admit that the government has the prerogative of transferring and or redeploying staff to other agencies within the industry, but they condemn in very strong terms, ‘’the unscrupulous and unwholesome invasion of our agencies by locusts and grasshoppers who are being compensated by the Minister of Aviation for their involvement in the neighbour to neighbour campaign and through sheer political patronage’’

They further alleged that the Minister  has a  penchant for undue interference in the day to day running of the aviation agencies. And that their  members who have been examined, tested, interviewed and found suitably qualified to become management staff and awaiting approval letters and or promotion letters to these higher offices  have been denied because  of recent redeployment and promotions in the ministry.

According to them ‘’ some unqualified elements are being decorated with the toga of General Managers without the prerequisite experience, expertise, skills and qualification as stipulated in the public service rules and or the subsisting Conditions of Service in the various agencies.

To add insult to an already sore wound, the Minister of Aviation has approved that a fresh four year old University graduate, without any sense of public service duties, be made a General Manager whereas it takes about twenty to twenty five years to attain the prestigious title of a General Manager in this industry’’

But the Minister has countered this by saying the union members are employees of the Federal government and have to abide by  service rules .

“The point has to be made that union leaders in the agencies are first and foremost, employees of the federal government. They are therefore subject to the same rules and regulations governing Civil Service in respect of transfers, redeployment, postings, etc’’.

On  the ongoing remodelling of  airports  which the unions said did not follow  due process;  contractors are unknown and nobody knows the costs of the projects , Mr  Obi  said  ‘’ In order to carry everybody along in the transformation of the sector, the Honourable Minister initiated a process of stakeholder engagements that culminated in the Aviation Sector Road Map and Master Plan. It is pertinent to mention that all the Aviation sector Unions were part of this stakeholder engagement process. Their views in support of the repositioning of the sector along these lines are on record.’’

The aviation sector should be saved from  in- fighting as the safety of air travellers could be affected. A work force that is unhappy cannot perform their duties diligently. Considering the delicate nature of the aviation industry, an  inappropriate action or inaction on the the part of staff on duty could  compromise safety.