THE situation at the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) is now drawing reactions from far and wide as the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) has also called on the Minister to take steps to address a looming industrial crisis.
ANAP in a letter signed by its Secretary General, Comrade Abdul rasaq Saidu and copied to Hon. Minister Transportation, Permanent Secretary as well as the General Secretary of the National Association of Aircraft Pilot and Engineers stated that they were solidly behind NAAPE and wanted justice.
According to the group, their backing of NAAPE is because of the perceived conspiracy in AIB and the plans to sweep such under the rug and pretend it never happened stating further that the situation may degenerate further if not looked into.
The letter read in part,”Please, be informed that, we are copy readers of NAAPE’s several protest and petition letters sent to your good-self on the above main subject matter with particular reference to their letter ref: NS/GS/00473/2016, dated September 26th, 2016 which should have become a matter of serious concern to the Hon Minister as to taking urgent step to address this looming industrial crisis is very unfortunate”.
“After we have digested NAAPE’s letter under reference, I am directed to officially inform the Hon. Minister that officers of our Trade Union, have decided to support NAAPE and shall join whatever action to be taking by NAAPE in solidarity to stop the impunity, mal-administration and abuse of office of the AIB Management unless the Hon. Minister urgently intervenes.”
“Our joiner in Solidarity with NAAPE is necessary in view of the suspected act of conspiracy to cover up this matter by AIB Management and this is totally unacceptable because an injury to one is an injury to all in the Labour movement.”
“Therefore Hon. Minister, if out of provocative tendencies arising from the nonchalant attitudes of AIB Management is allowed to generate into a full-blown industrial action, one may know how crisis begins but nobody could predict or determine how such crisis will end.”
“The only remedy to avoid crisis is by promptly addressing issues at stake as it is in this matter between NAAPE and AIB Management which is now heading towards industrial action so to say.”
“Hon. Minister sir, to resolve this looming crisis, may we suggest, as patriotic stakeholders in the sector, that an urgent tripartite meeting under your leadership should be called and to hold in Lagos at any of the parastatals conference room where we shall assist the Hon. Minister to resolve this dispute once and for all provided our Union is invited to this suggested Meeting.”
The group told the minister Minister to take its joiner very seriously and act decisively, and attached the photocopies of ANAP Certificate of registration as a trade Union and its publication in the Federal Government official Gazette.
“We do hope that our honest advice to call for a tripartite meeting shall assist the Hon. Minister in resolving this looming industrial action.”
AIB has been embroiled in crisis since July a situation that has led to a lot of publications and counter publications without the response from those petitioned.