Aviation

Aviation Roadmap: Sirika Harps On Industrial Harmony For Growth

Published

2 years ago

August 25, 2021

The minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has said, that for a critical sector like aviation to grow, there must be constant industrial harmony at the forefront of labour activities in the country

Addressing participants at a 2 day strategic stakeholders retreat in Owerri, Imo state, and organised by the joint aviation trade unions forum (JATUF) with its theme of the retreat “Harnessing the Gains of Industrial Harmony in the Aviation Sector” Sirika commended the commitment of the current leaders of the various Unions to the entrenchment of good industrial relations, believing in gains derivable therefrom.

Sirika, represented by Director of Press in the Ministry, Dr James Odaudu, said good industrial relation helps in effective utilisation of man, money, and material while improved employee morale, industrial peace, recognition of employee’s interest and reconciliation of employer’s and employee objectives and interest, increased production with minimum wastage of resources.

According to the minister, the roles which trade unions play are influenced by their own characteristics as much as by their environment adding that above all, trade unions perform various roles that are very significant in filling important gaps in the Nigerian industrial environment.

“One important role of labour union is the effective promotion of collective bargaining agreement. In every industrial and economic setting, trade unions constitute an element of fundamental importance to collective bargaining, which is vital for industrial peace and harmony. Every labor union in Nigeria sees this as a major role they are expected to carry out”

According to the minister, labour unions in the sector have continued to play their roles effectively and have been yielding positive results for both government and workers.

Dr James Odaudu
Represented the Minister

“In Nigerian aviation sector, i dare say that the various labour unions have tried to play this role effectively. This role enables labour union to ensure that cordial and good understanding between employers and employees could be established in workplace and leads to a harmonious and conducive working environment. It is such environment that results to higher organisational and individual productivity. This role helps to safeguard organisational stability, growth, and leadership”

Sirika urged Trade Unions to always strive to create level playgrounds for all members to take part in the decision-making machineries urging that they must present a strong united front since multiple unions dilute the power of unions and reduces their effectiveness.

“Like in other sectors, the challenge of poor and non-proactive leadership has contributed to lack of trust by members and wrong strategies by union leaders in addressing the myriads of issues that regularly call for attention. Unions should therefore ensure that only qualified, tested, and trusted leaders who are truly workers, should be voted into leadership positions at the local, state, and national level. It is only leaders with integrity that will have the courage to face employers objectively and call their members to order when things go wrong”

He called for union leaders to be properly trained and educated to know the basic labour laws to plan their actions within the confine of the laws to avoid pursuing shadows while leaving the substance especially during collective bargaining and conflict resolution engagements.

The minister assured that government will continue to support the involvement of union leaders and workers in the policy and decision-making processes to ensure that when issues arise at the workplace between managers and the employee, union representatives remain the channels to secure “win-win” situations in which both sides feel as if they each attained something from the deal.

Sirika noted that aviation development has entered the critical stage of the implementation of roadmap and all hands on deck to ensure its success stressing that only an environment of industrial harmony can guarantee that

In his message, the Chairman of JATUF Comrade Ahmadu Illitrus said all the unions in the industry have remained united for the overall development of the aviation industry

Ahmadu, who was represented by Comrade Abednego Galadima thanked the aviation Minister for the retreat adding that it has given the unions the opportunity to rub minds with a view to finding solutions to myriads of problems in the sector

He noted that harmonious working condition can be achieved through hard work by workers adding that as unions they will continue to seek the understanding of the employers to see unions as partners in progress.

According to Ahmadu, everybody will benefit when there is industrial harmony between labour and government by so doing, building mutual trust among the unions

Aviation

NSIB JOINS MARITIME ACCIDENT INVESTIGATORS INTERNATIONAL FORUM (MAIIF)

Published

19 hours ago

November 30, 2023

Sunrise Nigeria

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has added another feather to its cap with its acceptance into the Marine Accident Investigators’ International Forum (MAIIF).

The Forum was founded in June 1992 as an international non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of maritime safety and prevention of marine pollution through the exchange of ideas, experiences and information acquired in marine accident investigation,

A statement by NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr James Odaudu said Forum’s main goal is to promote and improve marine accident investigation, and to foster cooperation and communication between marine accident investigators around the world.

The NSIB was established by the Federal Government under the NSIB Act 2022 and is charged with the responsibility of investigating accidents and serious incident occurrences in Air, Rail, Marine and other modes of transportation in Nigeria and anywhere else Nigeria interest is affected, with the aim of enhancing safety in the transportation sector.

The fundamental objective of the Bureau is to improve transportation safety by determining the circumstances and causes of Air, Rail, Marine and other modes of transportation accidents as well as proffering safety recommended to prevent reoccurrence.

This induction into MAIIF sets NSIB on the path to even greater successes in its investigative prowess particularly in Maritime investigations and solidifies Nigeria premier spot in Africa as regards transportation accidents and serious incidents investigation.

With MAIIF having over 31 member countries cutting across Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa NSIB joins Capo Verde as the second African member.

Engr Akin Olateru
Director-General, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau

Speaking on the admission, the NSIB Director-General, Engr Akin Olateru said it would guarantee the nation’s access to international collaboration and assistance from nations involved in maritime safety investigation, similar to what it is already benefiting from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Banjul Accord Group Investigation Agency (BAGIA), African Civil Aviation Commission (AfCAC) in the aviation sector.

According to him, the membership of organisation will further improve the Nations maritime safety and follow global standards in carrying out its investigations

‘This is a step in the right direction for us as a Nation by joining forums like this where we can exchange information, knowledge and ideas’ said Olateru.

Aviation

Flight Diversion: NCAA Investigates United Nigeria Airlines ✈️

Published

4 days ago

November 27, 2023

Sunrise Nigeria

By Elizabeth Okwe

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding United Nigeria flight NUA 0506 to Asaba and the confusion it has created in the public domain.

This is according to a statement signed by the Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu.

The statement however affirmed that preliminary steps have been taken pending conclusions of ongoing investigation.

“The Authority wishes to reassure the traveling public that it will leave no stone unturned as it has always done in the past to ensure continued safety of the aviation industry” it concluded.

But in its defence few hours after the incident, United Nigeria Airlines claimed the flight was diverted to Asaba as a result of bad weather.

Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, the airline spokesperson, said the pilot was properly briefed about the diversion, noting that the cabin crew made “wrong announcement upon landing safely in Asaba [and] created confusion among the passengers.”

Capt. Musa Nuhu DG, CAA

However, unconfirmed reports indicate that the regulatory agency may have suspended the operations of wetleased aircraft in the stable of United Nigeria Airlines pending the conclusion of the investigations.

According to the sources, the Civil Aviation Authority is not satisfied with the explanations of the airline and is determined to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the flight misdirection.

Aviation

Omni-Blu AOC: Olateru Duely Resigned as Director of Airline, NCAA DG Affirms

Published

2 months ago

October 15, 2023

Sunrise Nigeria

Contrary to recent reports regarding the involvement of the Director-General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Engr Akin Olateru in the management of Omni-Blu Aviation, a jet and helicopter charter company, it has been revealed that the NSIB Director-General actually resigned his position as a Director in the company before taking up appointment with the company.

Director general, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu who has put the controversy to rest, has also revealed that the documents provided by the management of Omni-Blu aviation show that the Director General of Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Engr. Akin Olateru, duly resigned from the company before taking up appointment with government.

Capt. Musa Nuhu DG, NCAA

The NCAA DG spoke yesterday at the launch of a book ‘Handbook on Public Relation Practice and Aviation Reporting’, written by Sam Adurogboye, former public relations manager of NCAA.

He said the NCAA only asked somes questions in the course of the processing of the AOC which some quarters have conined to be suspension.

“It is unfortunate that it is coined that NCAA has suspended the AOC processes of Omni-Blu Aviation. One of the directors of Omni-Blu who is DG NSIB, Engr. Akin Olateru, a very close colleague and a friend of mine is a shareholder in Ombi-Blu and this was something he had before he came to the public service. Just because you came to public service does not mean you should wipe off your previous years.

Engr Akin Olateru
Director-General /CEO, NSIB

“There was just a question from NCAA that it appears there was a conflict between this application and the Act of NSIB and NCAA. So, they were asked to respond and they responded. He has provided all the documents, he has shown proof he has resigned and he has declared his interest in those organisations. So, he has provided the appropriate documentation to show that there is no conflict of interest.

“We cannot wipe out our previous lives just because we got to work for government, but there are conditions. In an industry that you are a CEO or a staff, you cannot have an interest, but there are procedures and he has given proof for those procedures; he has showed us that he actually resigned and that letter is actually confirmed by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). He showed that he has done all the necessary declarations to show that he has resigned.

“The only thing is that he has given the necessary documents required, but we have to take it through the normal procedures, legal process so that when documentation is done that he has been cleared, somebody tomorrow will not go and challenge it. It is important to go through the process of clearing him so that the records are put there. Anybody that comes in the future, can look at the file, see that the issue was raised, but the appropriate information had been provided and individual is cleared”, he said.

Nuhu said the process would be completed during the new week.

“However, in this new week. It would have been done, but our legal adviser travelled out with me. So, we will work on it and the process will continue.”, he added.

He said the conflict of interest aspect has also be resolved.

It was reported last week that the NCAA had suspended the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) processes for Omn-Blu Aviation (OBA), which would enable it to operate as a scheduled operator.

Ombi-Blu currently operates as a chartered helicopter and jet company.