Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
- NUATE calls off industrial action on NCAA
THE Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) FAAN Branch have explained that they are aware of the funding challenges of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB)but have asked the Minister of State, Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika not flout any of the Agencies’ Establishment laws while seeking funding for the agency.
This is just as another union, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has called off its ultimatum to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) due to intervention from the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
In its joint letter to the President, ANAP and the NUP called on the C-in-C to direct his Minister of state’s attention to the preparation of a reasonable supplementary budget for the Accident Investigation Bureau(AIB) as it understands that the Bureau is need of funds instead of looking for the quick fix and unlawfully trying to rob one agency.
Already stories making rounds is that the Minister has, without approval from the National Assembly, directed FAAN to remit 5%of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the AIB, a situation if true, could portend diverse legal issues.
The Joint letter in part read,” Government owned companies, parastatals and agencies etc, were established through enabling Acts stating how funds or revenue could be provided and therefore dangerous to now wanted to unlawfully rob FAAN for AIB when both were established by law stipulating their source of fundings.”
“Yearly budgets are being prepared and defended by both FAAN and AIB base on individual IGR and have obtained approval before appropriation. For him to have thereafter directed FAAN to be remitting 5% from monthly PSC without due process of law amounted to an outright illegality on the part of the Minister of State and shall also result into threat to safety and security for which FAAN is statutorily empowered.”
“We are aware that the United Nations charter on Aircraft accident investigation does not allow AIB to charge for services rendered as IGR and this is the reason why 3% of total revenue derived from Ticket Sales Charges (TSC) in addition to their yearly budgetary Federal Government allocation are the source for funding AIB by the Federal Government.”
“Having critically looked into the reasons given by the commissioner/CEO of AIB for requesting for more funds to enable AIB Operates and meets her statutory responsibilities, it is understandably justified and agreed with his demand for more funding but it shouldn’t be from the IGR of FAAN. It is for the Hon. Minister of State to prepare a special supplementary budget for AIB and to ensure its approval by the relevant Government Agency or better still, the Federal Executive Council in view of the strong and genuine reasons given by the commissioner requesting for additional funds,” the unions’ statement read.
Meanwhile, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) in its letter: Re: Demand for Outstanding Promotion Letters for Deserving Staff within One Week to Avoid Imminent Labour Crises have shelved further action at the behest of the Ministry.
The letter signed by General Secretary, Olayinka Abioye in read,” You may recall that NUATE (and her partners) had placed an ultimatum on the NCAA which upon its expiration would entail total shutdown of the NCAA in its five regional offices.”
“A few hours ago, the National President of our union, entreaties, promptings proposed intervention from the Federal Ministry of Transportation, has waded into the dispute on the above subject.”
“Consequent upon this intervention from the Ministry and on the advice from stakeholders, we regret to inform you that our industrial action is hereby suspended forthwith, as the NCAA management, the Ministry and our Union engage in social dialogue towards the settlement of the matter in dispute.”
