The Joint Aviation Trade Unions’ Forum (JATUF) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) have expressed concerns over the domestication of aviation personnel training announced by the Aviation Minister.
While acknowledging the desire to save foreign exchange, the unions argue that the industry’s unique nature and global standards require a more nuanced approach.
According to Comrade Illitrus Ahmadu, Chairman of JATUF, in an interview with newsmen at the JATUF annual conference in Lagos, the country lacks the capacity to offer most of the trainings in-house, and even if facilitators are brought in, practical training is essential, which is not feasible in Nigeria.
He emphasized that some trainings require specialized facilities, such as simulators and laboratories, which are not available locally.
Abednego Galadima, President of NAAPE, also expressed reservations, stating that the industry is global and cannot be localized.
He emphasized the need for proper planning, capacity building, and infrastructure development before attempting to domesticate training.
Galadima warned that rushing into domestication without proper planning could lead to gaps in training and regulatory requirements.
The unions also highlighted the importance of constituting boards for aviation parastatals, which has been a long-standing issue.
Comrade Ahmadu noted that the absence of boards has hindered progress in the industry, and the minister has given his word to constitute the boards soon.
In assessing the industry’s progress over the past year, Galadima noted that while there have been some positive developments, such as improvements in insurance, more work needs to be done to address fundamental issues like maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capacity and national carrier development.
