Aviation : ‘Halt Planned Demolition Of Agencies’Offices’

The Senate has directed the Minister of Aviation , Senator Hadi Sirika to stop forthwith the planned demolition of some  aviation agencies ‘ offices and headquarters in Lagos pending the outcome of  planned  interface between its Committee  on Aviation and  all other parties  involved .
This resolution of the Senate  was sequel to a motion moved by Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti)) , on the urgent need of the Senate’s intervention on the intending warning strike by Aviation unions. Olujimi, in the motion called the attention of the Senate to the intending warning strike by the Union of the Air Transport Employees; Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria; Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals; and National Association of Aircrafts Pilots and Engineers; among others.
She noted that the strikes have become too many and too frequent to be  ignored.
According to her the  issues in contention are not new  as some  have lingered for over eight years with several agreements signed between the unions and government but not honoured .
She pointedly  stated that continuous threats of outright demolition of the Aviation agencies ( FAAN, NCAA and NAMA headquarters ) in Lagos by the Ministry  without making reasonable provisions for  befitting alternative offices, , is making the affected unions to fight back through strike actions.
She therefore urged the Senate to intervene in the matter by mandating its committee to interface with all stakeholders with a view to finding lasting solutions.
The Senate  at the end of the debates mandated its Committee on Aviation  to organise  an interactive session with all the parties involved .
President of the Senate , Ahmad Lawan , in his remarks urged the committee to intensify efforts towards nipping in the bud any move  that may result into strike.
He noted that   Aviation being the face of the country , must not be allowed to run into crisis .

By:      Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja