The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NUATE

  • Aviation workers shelve strike

    Aviation workers shelve strike

    …As FG set up committee to address issue

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has shelved their strike action.

    The suspension was on the heels of resolutions taken at the end of a meeting organised by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu with head of the unions including management of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in Abuja.

    The union had threatened to embark on strike action which ought to commence on Monday.

    Their dispute with the management of NAMA bothered on issues on staff welfare.

    In a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Aviation Minister (Media), Joe Obi, on Monday in Abuja it was unanimously agreed that due notification was not given to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in the aforementioned dispute.

    According to the statement, “the meeting consequently resolved that: (i) the issue of determination of the basic salary and other allowances for the staff of NAMA concerned shall be taken up by a Committee to be headed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation.”(ii) To be included in that Committee are the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Chairman, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC). Other members are to be worked out by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation including the number of Trade Union membership.

    “(iii) The time frame for the work of the Committee shall be concluded within a reasonable time as was deliberated upon and agreed at the meeting.

    (iv) Based on the above, the proposed strike by the Trade Unions was shelved

    The Resolutions were jointly signed by the National President of ATSSSAN, Benjamin Okewu, his NUATE counterpart, Mohammed Safiyanu, Director, Human Resources Management (HRM), NAMA, Dr. Uwem Akangson, Director, HRM, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Mr. Clement A. Dosunmu, National President, NATCA, Eyaru Victor, Director Compensation, NSIWC, Ukut S.U and the Director of Trade Unions, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mrs C.C. Dike.

     

  • Unions hail zero per cent tariff for airlines

    Unions hail zero per cent tariff for airlines

    The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) have praised the government for the zero per cent tariff on aircraft and spare parts import.

    They said the measure would airline operators to bring in new aircraft for their operations.

    National President, ATSSSAN, Benjamin Okewu, said the policy had provided an opportunity for operators to bring in aircraft that can stand the test of time.

    He said it was an opportunity for the operators to refleet their aircraft and reduce their fares, pool resources and source for loan with one digit interest from the international financial organisations to bring equipment that will enhance the air transport system in the country.

    He said: “For airline operators, they should capitalise on this noble opportunity to refleet their stock of aircraft. In doing that, they must take into consideration the routes they are flying. The route must determine the type of the aircraft to be brought in.”

    Okewu noted that tarriff has been the major constraint on the part of the airline, especially in the last five years when it became obvious that local airlines were on the verge of going down, as a result of high tariffs on parts, which led to calls by the unions to grant waivers to the aviation sector.

    The ATSSSAN boss lamented that a cartel has hijacked the oil sector, making it difficult to have JET A1 refined in the country to the detriment of the airlines, adding that aviation fuel accounted for about 40 per cent of the running cost of an airline.

    He called for the building of dedicated refineries for JET A1, as aviation has continued to play a vital role in driving the economy. ”As a stop gap measure, the government should instruct the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to produce the required quantity that is needed in the country,” he said.

    On the construction of five new international airports by the Federal Government, Okewu was optimistic that the long-awaited plan have started taking off, describing it as good.

    Comrade Mohammed Safiyanu, the National President of NUATE, said the removal of tariff on aircraft and spares import have been the desire of the union and the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON).

    According to Safiyanu, airline operators have argued that the cost of importation of an aircraft and its parts have been responsible for the high cost of fares, adding that the zero tariffs will go a long way in crashing air fares on the domestic routes.

    The NUATE chief, however, called on the government to look into the possibility of refining petroleum products in the country especially the JET A1 to reduce airfares in the country.

    “We saying that the refineries must be made to work and refine these products in the country, especially JET A1. This will make more people to fly instead of going by road,” Safiyanu said.

    On the five new airports approved for construction by the government, the union leader said it was a good development if only the existing ones could be maintained along with the construction of the new international ones.

    He advised that work going on at the old airports should not be abandoned while constructing the new terminals, adding that there was hope for the country’s aviation sector.

    Also speaking on the issue, Arik Air described it as a heart warming concession that would assuage the high operating costs of domestic airlines.

    The Executive Vice President/Managing Director, Arik Air Mr Chris Ndulue, praised the concession and that it would not only enhance safety, but also assuage the high operating costs incurred by airlines.

    He praised the President for mustering the political will to incorporate the tariff waiver in the 2013 budget , thereby giving vent to the long sought relief for domestic airlines that have been reeling under the cumbersome Custom procedures for imported aircraft and spare parts.