….warns that staff should not be taken for granted.
The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), has vowed to mobilize the industry unions to ensure full payment of allowances to staff in all the agencies relocating out of their stations to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
National President, ATSSSAN, Comrade Illitrus Ahmadu, told journalists in Lagos that the priority of any union was to protect the interest of its members, promising that ATSSSAN would not fail to ensure this at any time.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika had in a letter dated 4th May, 2020 directed all the Aviation agencies relocate to the FCT.
He however said that the union was not against the relocation order by the Minister of Aviation but said the staff welfare should not be taken for granted.
Comrade Ahmadu emphasized that the unions would kick against the crippling of activities in Lagos by the government as a result of the relocation order.
“We will not accept a situation where you ask anyone to go without first paying him his relocation allowance and my advice is that you cannot relocate people out of Lagos to Abuja and cripple activities in Lagos.
“You should provide enough capital resources to continue to drive operations in Lagos while you move those few people to Abuja.”
The ATSSSAN President, however noted that this was not the first time such directive would be issued to the agencies, saying that some of the agencies’ staff were relocated in 2012, but it was later halted.
“Basically, it is not saying everyone should move from their various formations to Abuja. It is just saying corporate headquarters. In our industry today, the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) spend about three to four days in Abuja. So, it makes no sense. The operational offices can stay wherever they are.
“The challenge is this, I know the agencies were allocated lands some time ago, but most of them are yet to build their corporate headquarters, while others are in the process.
“In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has presence in virtually all the states, but its headquarters is in Washington DC. They oversee the affairs of the industry from there.”
He stressed that the union expects the CEOs to empower the offices at the regions and various formations so that those who were there would be able to perform their duties effectively, adding that what they want to see was some level of authorities to the people at the regions and formations.
