NigerianFLIGHTDECK Travel and Business Reportage 
CURRENT national vice president of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigerians ATSSSAN, Comrade Ahmadu Ilitrus has urged delegates to stand for the truth and avoid politics of bitterness and tribalism as the union prepares for its national elections.
This is just as he has said that the welfare of aviation workers in the country will be accorded priority to ensure enhanced productivity in the sector.
Ilitrus who made this known in an interview with Journalists at the airport while reeling out his program for aviation workers when elected as president of ATSSSAN said the Nigerian aviation workers have suffered and needed more enhanced welfare benefits.
A one time branch secretary and chairman of NCAA branch, Comrade Ilitrus who is also a lawyer said, he has committed himself to serve the union haven passed through persecution as a result of struggles to emancipate workers through involvement in meetings and negotiations for workers conditions of service.
He explained that there will be consultations especially with government on issues affecting agencies with a view to arriving at amicable solutions.
According to the presidential aspirant, trust, integrity, dedication and performance were factors that led to his bid to contest for the president of association and will build on the achievement of the present executive.
He said ATSSSAN delegates need to look beyond tribe, religion and whatsoever but to select a leadership with character, fearless and quality based on antecedents
Ilitrus said avenues to better the welfare of the workers will be opened.,”Most of our members because of the lean financial purse of our members, they rely heavily on the our employers for sponsorships. I intend to think outside the box to look at areas of innovations and investments that we can generate revenue to manage our affairs without necessarily relying on our employers”
He explained that he will reach out to organizations that have not embraced unionism to get unionized as every Nigerian worker has the right and freedom to belong to union.
Ilitrus vowed to take up the issue with the ministry of Labour and that of aviation while using the constitution to stop management from restricting employees from joining unions.
According to him operations of the union will be decentralized as a cost saving measure by not allowing national officers to travel from Lagos to as far as Niger-Delta to settle issues affecting members. “Negotiation teams within the rank and files will be set up and give them the necessary trainings in the area of negotiation skills to represent the union adequately”
