Aviation workers lament absence of governing board at FAAN, NCAA, NAMA

Abiola Seun

The  President of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Com. Ben Nnabue has rued the absence of governing board in all the agencies in the nation’s aviation sector in the last six years.

The aviation agencies include The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).

However, in his May Day 2021 address made available to newsmen, Nnabue said the absence of board has stunted the growth and development of the sector.

The union leader further frowned at the absence of Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO), facility and aerotropolis development which he said are all flagship programs of President Muhammadu Buhari administration but have all suffered paralysis, despite massive support from all stakeholders.

“We have persistently pointed out the folly of one-man-show in the governance of the sector.

“As we all know, there has  been no governing boards for all the agencies in aviation, and the CEOs being direct employees of the Minister of Aviation, and the Minister being the Chairman of all the so called Interim Boards, the affairs of the entire aviation industry has been contrived to be totally in the hands of one man.

“This is extremely dangerous, preposterous and truly objectionable. All our protestations on the subject over the past years have fallen on deaf ears. That stakeholders in the industry have tolerated this circumstance for all of six years is quite honestly incomprehensible.”

The union leader further rued the inability to float a functioning national carrier despite financial waste.

His words, “whereas a state government, Akwa Ibom, has since successfully launched its own airline without any fanfare, which is fast becoming the industry leader, our country has woefully failed in its attempt to birth a national carrier after over ten years of labour and colossal financial waste.

“The proposed aircraft leasing company, national aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and aerotropolis development, all flagship programs of this federal administration, have all suffered paralysis, despite massive support from all stakeholders and informed Nigerians.

“They all followed the same path; bitten by the bug of hidden agenda, suffered the ailment of ill-motive to death, presently in the coffins of infidelity to the national cause, and waiting to be buried in the grave of onemanism.

“I enjoin all NUATE members to join hands in prayer for a better tomorrow for our dear nation’s aviation industry.”

He also mentioned the concession of the airport , saying it was selective  but vowed the union will continue to oppose it.

“The case of selective airports concession is already well told. Our irreversible opposition to the unjustifiable program is based on unassailable evidence of unwholesomeness and is well documented.

“We call on the National assembly, the Federal Executive Council and the Presidency to work together to put a halt to the travesty called airports concession and save our dear Nation from further draining of the national treasury.”