The Minister of Labour and
Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, on Tuesday in Abuja advised pilots and engineers in the Aviation sector to always adopt amicable ways of settling disputes.
The minister said at the opening of the 13th National Delegates Conference and Symposium of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) that the advice became necessary because of the sensitive nature of the sector.
‘It is in the interest of the country for the association to always use social dialogue strategies to solve industrial disputes rather than embarking on strike, he said.
According to him, it is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war and you must know that some sectors are important and cannot go on strike; your sector is one of such sectors and you can’t afford to shut the airspace under the name of strike,.
“ I therefore urge you to always use the machinery of dialogue to resolve issues rather than confrontation,’’ Wogu told the conference with the theme “Safety and the Balance Sheet- Striking a Balance’’.
He also said that as a registered trade union, the association had the immense responsibility to ensure that the people using airlines are flown to safety all the time.
The minister appealed to the association to always contact the ministry on issues that needed intervention to avoid unnecessary strikes.
In his address, Senate president David Mark called on pilots, engineers and other aviation workers to always strive for safety in the sector, and that “under no circumstances should safety be compromised for gains.
Mark said safety of citizens should be more paramount to them than the profit they hope to make, although “It can be further argued that an airline that operates at a loss over time, will, sooner or later, compromise all other standards, including safety.”
The senate president, who was represented by Sen. Hope Uzodimma, the Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, urged the union to work with the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, to achieved government’s transformation agenda in the sector.
“It is important for you to support the government instead of agitating for profit first at all times; it should be work first before welfare.
“It is not the best to keep going on strike; bargaining should be used to negotiate between the unions and the government instead of going on strike,’’ Mark said.
In her remarks, the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, urged members of NAAPE to always exhibit high level of professionalism and willingness to be agents of change in the sector.
“If our new vision of zero-tolerance for accidents is to be realised, members must play a significant part; so far, you have been a reliable ally,’’ she said.
“As union leaders, your core brief is to look out for the welfare of your members but you have to have a job in a healthy and strive-free organisation first before the question of welfare arises. “In times of disagreements with management, I urge caution. Let us put our organisation and the sector first, let us always try to resolve our differences through constant dialogue and consultation,’’ she said.
The minister, who was represented Mr George Osi, the permanent secretary in the ministry, also noted that the Nigerian aviation industry was witnessing robust transformation.
She said the transformation was not only witnessed in the renewal of facilities at the country’s airports but also in the area of safety, service delivery and overall passenger comfort and satisfaction.
She said that the ministry would continue to engage the unions on how to improve safety in the sector.
“With you on our side always, our airspace would rank among the safest in the world. “We also need to be able to count on you in another important aspect of our relationship; the need to ensure industrial peace and harmony in the sector. “The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria has been repositioned and strengthened to deliver on the manpower needs of the Nigerian aviation sector as well as for exportation of aviation professionals to other African countries,’’ Oduah said.