Aviation union under the aegis of Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) on Saturday held its first National Executive Council Meeting (NEC) at their headquarters in Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
The meeting was well attended by both ANAP’s National Administrative Council (NAC) members and NEC members cutting across aviation agencies, including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
Inaugurating the NEC meeting, President General of ANAP, Comrade Kabir Yahaya Gusau welcomed the 20 members who were present, comprising of NAC members, zonal chairmen, zonal secretaries and zonal treasurers from Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Abuja zones.
Comrade Gusau who expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noted that the ability of ANAP to conduct its first NEC meeting in this manner is an indication that the union has come to stay. He advised the union members to be selfless in whatever they are doing, stressing that it is only through personal sacrifice and total commitment that the union can grow and leave an enduring legacy for the future.
He equally emphasized that, although one of his members had received death threats over their agitations for improvement in workers’ welfare, the union will continue to push for what they believe is in the best interest of the industry, workers and the country.
In his remark, ANAP’s secretary general, Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu noted that the inauguration of NEC meeting is a very significant event in the history of the ANAP, noting that he was happy that those people who struggled to get these things done for the past 10 years are still here to witness the event.
Describing ANAP as a child of circumstances, Comrade Saidu informed that the union was formed at a time when the hope of aviation workers have been dashed completely.
He said “ANAP is a child of circumstance. We started it when the hope of aviation workers have been dashed. That time, some professionals at the administrative cadre gathered themselves together, particularly, the Fire and Safety Rescue. It was in about year 2005 when things were not going rightly but these people believed that the situation then, cannot continue. That is how the journey of ANAP started.
According to Saidu, with over 2,000 members, the union now has a certificate and has been registered since September, 2016 as a trade union under Section 5 (B) of the Trade Union Act. CAP T.14 of 2004.
Speaking further, the ANAP scribe added “We are not trouble makers but we want this industry to be professionalized. All actions being perpetrated to the detriment of long service workers must be reviewed. Improper promotions, wrongful employment, act of corruption must stop in the aviation industry. We are approachable; we are ready for negotiation and dialogue but any system, management, government, ministry that is anti-worker will be face squarely in line with the law.
Comrade Saidu also admonished all members to be united at all times, stressing that such unity is the weapon they have to fight any form of injustice. He warned that the issue of airport concession proposed by the federal government and the NiMet workers welfare issue should not be the fight of FAAN and Nimet alone but for all stakeholders, across the agencies and unions.
In his comment, Deputy President General of ANAP, Engr Ogunfeitimi AH congratulated all members, stating that the inauguration of ANAP NEC is a landmark history of a journey of many years.
“Today ANAP has NEC. This is the beginning of a very good day in ANAP”, Engr Ogunfeitimi said.
