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Unions protest ‘outsider’ appointment as FAAN’s Finance GM
The unions in the aviation sector today kicked against Federal Government’s appointment of “an outsider” as the General Manager, Finance of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The labour groups maintained that the said position was for career civil servants.
They made their position known during a peaceful protest at the FAAN headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
The protest was organised by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport & Employees, (NUATE)Comrade Olayinka Abioye addressing the workers of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) yesterday during the protest over the employment of (outsider) the new General Manager, Finance in FAAN and delay of the workers promotions
General Secretary, National Association of Aircraft Pilot and Engineering, (NAAPE), Comrade Aba Ocheme addressing the workers of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) yesterday during the protest over the employment of (outsider) the new General Manager, Finance in FAAN and delay of the workers promotions
Addressing the protesters, Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NUATE, 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.
“Ater 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,” Abioye said.
According to him, the unions were also studying other political appointments made in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).
He said “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. “
Also speaking, Mr Aba Ocheme, General Secretary, NAAPE, said bringing in outsiders was demoralising for workers who had put in many years only to be denied their legitimate aspirations.
“This will only make workers less productive and stunt the growth of the aviation industry in Nigeria , ” he added.
On his part, the President of ATSSSAN, Mr Ilitrus Ahmadu, said it was unfortunate that
career civil servants are not given the opportunity to challenge those coming in from outside for such positions via written tests.
career civil servants are not given the opportunity to challenge those coming in from outside for such positions via written tests.
“They need to prove that they are better than the people already on ground and that they deserve the jobs but unfortunately that has not been the case, ” Ahmadu said.
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