Unions kick against FAAN’s appointed GM Finance, holds protest

UNIONS in the aviation sub sector this morning protested what they termed as Federal government’s insensitivity to the progression of career professionals with the appointment of a General Manager, Finance,  Aniefiok Umoh from outside the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) describing it as a growth stopper for carrier civil servants.

The unions, Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria, (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees, (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, (NAAPE) besieged the headquarters of FAAN demanding that government rescinds that position as it goes contrary to the agreement they had during the proper placement parley.

Speaking during the protest, the general secretary of NUATE, Mr Olayinka Abioye said the minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, had earlier assured the unions that outsiders would not be given positions meant for career civil servants in the sector.

Abioye said: “After a critical analysis of the appointment, we have observed that there was an error in bringing in an outsider to head the department of finance, FAAN, and we are saying no to such appointment.
The position he is being given is a career position and the minister has already told us that he doesn’t want outsiders to come and hijack any position in FAAN.”

He said the unions are studying other political appointments made in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB.
“We have found some errors in those appointments and at the appropriate time, we will react even though the government has the prerogative power of appointment into any directorate level.
We are going to communicate our position in writing to the minister because if this industry must move forward, only capable persons who have the prerequisite experiences should be given appointments,” he said.
Also speaking, general secretary of NAAPE, Mr Aba Ochem stated that the issue of bringing in outsiders was demoralizing for the workers who had put in many years only to be denied their legitimate aspirations.
He maintained that this development will only make workers less productive and stunt the growth of the aviation industry in the country.

President of ATSSSAN, Mr Ilitrus Ahmadu observed that the situation is unfortunate where career civil servants are not given the opportunity to challenge those coming in from outside for such positions via written tests.