…as AIB Commissioner applauds staff for successes, redouble efforts
Workers in the aviation industry this morning at work resumption after the New Year celebrations trouped out to pray for another zero accident year in 2020, growth and unity.
Staff of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, gathered in its headquarters to sing songs and pray with focus on 5 prayer points which includes the privilege to be alive, preserving the unity of the country and for the continuous growth of the aviation industry.
Others points are the sustenance of the mission and vision of the NCAA as well as the FAA CAT 1 and other milestones achieved by the authority and comfort for families of NCAA staff that died last year and for cooperation, love, honesty and unity between Management and staff.
Addressing the workers after the prayers, the Acting Director General, NCAA, Capt. Abdullahi Sidi thanked the workers for their support in 2019 and urged them to redouble this support to consolidate on the No zero accident recorded last year.
Capt Sidi represented by the Director, Consumer Protection, NCAA, Mallam Adamu Abdullahi, said though there were incidences, it did not lead to any major accident, adding that worldwide there were over 40 accidents with many deaths.
“We couldn’t have achieved what we achieved last year without the support and cooperation of all staff that are here and those in other offices across the country; this is because a tree does not make a forest however that big that tree is. We first of all say thanks to all and sundry for all the support that we got through the year 2019 as well as hope that the same will continue in the year 2020”.
While thanking God for the accident free year 2019, Capt Sidi noted that, “we all know how dangerous air travel is and how our accidents when they happen claim a lot of lives, we are very thankful to God and we look forward to that God will also give us another accident free year and indeed more and more years to come”.
He promised the staff that their welfare would be given adequate attention including their promotion and the verification exercise which would commence this January by the Ministry of Aviation geared toward ensuring efficiency and productivity staff and for the good of the industry.
“Please go and dust all your original certificates because that is what they want to see during the verification exercise, on the promotion for 2020, staff has been encouraged to go on the website and fill in your APA forms”.
The Acting DG called for cooperation among staff and appealed that pulling each other down would not augur well for the agency but to support each other and make hail while the sun shines.
“We are not going to be in NCAA forever but we want to all the same have our impart felt, so please continue to give us your support and we promise you that whatever it is that has to do with staff welfare, we will continue to keep it as something of priority”.
Also speaking, Chairman, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association, ATSSSAN NCAA branch, Comrade Ayodele Sofolahan said the year 2019 was a challenging year for the unions in the NCAA.
He said the unions were still hopeful that the promises made by management last year as regards workers welfare would be fulfilled this year.
“We had a lot of challenges but God saw us through, it was turbulence, we disagree to agree, we fought battles even in the air we fought battles, everywhere we fought battles bit God sustained us and we were able to resolve some issues, we want to thank God for that but this year too we are continuing because the battles still continue”.
Similar prayer session was also held by the workers of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA at its annex.
Also in his New Year message to staff, the Commissioner Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, Akin Olateru applauding the staff for their contribution to the realisation of Bureau’s goals and successes.
He noted that, “We bear the burden of a huge responsibility in matters which are always of National importance and often of the highest sensitivity to the parties concerned”.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that, as far as it is possible, we help to keep air transportation safe, and transporters accountable”.
Olateru appealed to them to be more determined and committed to the delivery of the high quality standards which are required in our industry.
“It is our core mandate to investigate occurrences in relation to air transportation and to make an accurate determination, in order to prevent their recurrence and to mitigate any undesirable after effects”.
He added,“We cannot and must not, therefore, rest on our laurels. Each one of you forms a significant part of the larger value chain. There is always work to be done and room for improvement and growth. We must each constantly self evaluate, take stock and re-evaluate our individual performances, to identify areas in which we could do better, and in preparation for any challenges which lie ahead”.
