… FAAN pledges support for trade unions for industrial harmony
The National Union of Air Transport Employees NUATE, says, revenue generating aviation agencies are in a precarious financial state over the implementation of the fiscal Responsibility Act.
The Act authorizes 40% deduction at source from the all revenue accruing to the agencies.
President NUATE, Comrade Ben Nnabue who stated the at the 11th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference and Award Ceremony in Benin City, Edo State said, this has further been worsened by instances of multiple deductions.
According to him, at the current revenue levels vis-a-vis expenditure levels, it is impossible for any of the agencies to sustain it’s operations under the present yoke of the Act.
Comrade Nnabue noted that, with this development, it is most certain that the agencies will collapse which will spell heavy crisis for the national economy.
He called on President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Mr. Festus Keyamo to first stop the double deductions and then grant special waivers to the aviation agencies without which the sector will be unable to perform their statutory duties.
The NUATE President also called on the Minister to carryout a forensic audit on the national projects, recast the general directions and represent them for delivery.
He thanked the minister on his role in getting approval for the release of trapped funds of foreign airlines, pleading that, an urgent solution be made to release the balance to avoid an escalation of the situation into a conflagration.
Speaking on the theme of the 11th Delegates Conference: ‘A New Partnership For Aviation Development’, Comrade Nnabue said, NUATE will continue to remain a veritable partner to all aviation concerns who share with them the true spirit of partnership and who profess productive industrial relations practice.
He frown at some organizations operating within the aviation Industry who have deprived their employees the right to exercise their constitutional civil rights to belong to the trade union.
In his address at the event, the Managing Director Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN Mr Kabir Mohammed assured the Authority’s resolve to sustain existing cordial relationships with all recognized trade unions and continue to dialogue on areas of dispute, if any really exists.
The FAAN MD represented by the Deputy General Manager, Industrial Relations FAAN, Mrs Odukoya Olasimbo, appealed to all contestants to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship while eventual winners should endeavour to run an inclusive association that would be for the betterment of both winners and those not elected.
He reaffirms the authority’s support for the unions recognizing everyone as social partners in the drive to work together to take the industry to an eviable position.
“It is time for us to lay aside our differences and work in unison”, he added.
