Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
INCUMBENT National President of the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association (ATSSSAN) and Assistant General Manager Legal at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Comrade Ilitrus Ahmad was in the early hours of this morning October 3, 2021 returned as the ATSSSAN President.
In a keenly contested race at the third national delegate conference of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN), held in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Ahmad beat his closest rival Comrade Ahmed Danjuma of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) by 49 votes against 34 votes in a race where 83 delegates were accredited.
The results declared at exactly 4:20 am Sunday morning also saw Comrade Jaja Emmanuel returned as 1st Deputy Vice President, Adekoya Olasupo as 2nd Deputy Vice President while Ogbuji Anthony, Daneyang Elisha, Amupitan Martins, Shonebare Omotola, Okponyaha Amoge, Aminu Sarafa, Atashe Innocent, Tobi Slyvester, Emetu Chukwu, Sofolahan Gabriel and Aliyu Bello returned as 1st Vice President, Treasurer, 1st Auditor, Women Leader, 2nd Auditor, 1st/2nd/3rd Trustees as well as 1st/2nd/3rd ex-officio.
The new executives have been sworn in.
Earlier, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, cautioned aviation unions against issuing threats and carrying out industrial actions over issues bordering on conditions of service stressing that challenge posed by COVID-19 demands that all stakeholders work together to fashion out a viable pathway to a strong and healthy aviation industry that will offer everybody, including workers the desired dividends.
Sirika who was represented by the Commissioner of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Akin Olateru, said the sector is in a period of recovery and so not the time for threats and spate of industrial actions which he insists, will only further inhibit the growth the industry so badly needs.
“The serious challenge posed by COVID-19 demands that all stakeholders work together to fashion out a viable pathway to a strong and healthy aviation industry that will offer everybody, including workers the desired dividends. The unions have a critical role to play in the growth and sustenance of the aviation industry, as their members constitute the majority of the workers who toil day and night to ensure the smooth running of the industry.
“It is agreed that unions exist to serve the interests of their members. However, in an industry that is known for low margins, especially the airline sector where labor is one of the largest cost, lowering labor costs becomes very attractive and unions will always kick. Yet, the industry needs labour just as labour needs the industry.
“We are in a period of recovery, so this is not the time for threats and spate of industrial actions which will only further inhibit the growth the industry so badly needs.
“The government, employers and labour must work together for the best interest of the aviation industry. This is what can guarantee job security and prosperity for stakeholders. In 2020, at the peak of the pandemic, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) representing aviation and other transport workers worldwide, joined forces with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), who represents aviation employers , to chart a course for the future of aviation.
“We must all first work together to save aviation and keep the global supply chains going. Our unions and aviation management should prioritize collaborative dialogue to ensure the industry’s financial health and the consequent preservation and growth which will eventually enable aviation employers provide acceptable conditions of service to their workers.
“We shall continue to carry labour along in policies and strategic moves to reposition the industry. We also expect the unions to reciprocate this gesture with a bit more consideration and support in the best interest of the aviation sub sector,” Sirika said.
