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NAAPE advocates inclusion of stakeholders in aviation policy formulation

By on August 11, 2013

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers(NAAPE) has urged the Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation to carry along aviation stakeholders in the formation important aviation policy formulation especially the planned setting up of a national carrier called Nigeria 1 and the aerotroplis projects.

The association said this in a communiqué signed by General Secretary of NAAPE, Ocheme Aba at the conclusion of its 13th national delegate conference of the association with the theme, “Safety and the Balance Sheet – Striking a Balance” in Abuja.

The conference urged the Federal Government to emulate Ethiopian Airlines, which involved Ethiopian aviation stakeholders at its conception, a decision which formed the principal ingredient for its success story today.

According to the group, “This is the only way to guarantee success of the ventures. NAAPE therefore makes itself available in this regard”

The eight point communiqué also advised Nigerian airline operators to accept wise counsel and co-operate with each other by way of mergers, acquisition, collaboration and code sharing to succeed instead of wanting to go –it all alone

syndrome which has not helped the operators or the industry.

The communiqué also shares the view of Keynote Speaker at the occasion, Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu that advocated for the formation of about two big carriers from the airlines in Nigeria, adding that this will enable them compete with the mega carriers in the global market.

The conference added that to do otherwise will only amount to prolonging the current miserable state of Nigeria Airlines.

On the state of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, the conference said urgent and definite actions must be taken to upgrade the institution regain its world-class statute and that the college’s post-graduate programme should be expanded.

Also canvassed was the need to the expand NCAT’s programme to PHD level, the need to build the capacity of its instructors to doctorate cadre, as well as providing for professorship in the institution.

The conference berated airlines such as Arik Air, IRS Airlines, Med-view Airlines, Dana Air and Chanchangi that have disallowed their workers from being members of the union, contrary to the provisions of labour law, adding contesting that non-unionisation hinders human capacity development and holds back NAAPE’s effort to place Nigerian aviation industry on the global stage.

Based on this, it mandated the National Administrative Council (NAC) to use all lawful means to ensure that all working pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers are fully unionised,adding that that the notion which depicts union as a foe is a misconception.

 

 

[Daily Independent]