On Thursday, the Nigeria Labour Congress, often known as the NLC, expressed its displeasure over the fact that pensions and other benefits owed to its members by various organizations were not transferred in accordance with the requirements of the law.
The organized labor accused several airlines of withholding pensions and other benefits from pilots and engineers working in the aviation industry. The organized labor further emphasized that the deductions were not appropriately reimbursed by operators.
The workers’ welfare and pension payments were made in accordance with the union’s announcement that it would initiate action to rectify the issue and ensure that workers receive their benefits.
During his speech at the symposium held in Port Harcourt by the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, with the theme: ‘Effective Economic Regulation of the Aviation Industry As An Imperative For Safety And Workers Welfare,’ the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, stated that some airline operators are not respectful to their pilots and engineers.
His exact statements were as follows: “While the operators denied the pilots and engineers the rights to join any unions or organisations of their choice, the operators of the airline formed and belong to several bodies locally and globally.”
The fact that some of these pilots and engineers are owed several months’ worth of salary has a negative impact on both their mental health and their work performance. This could have a detrimental effect on the technical personnel’s professional judgment as well as their sense of safety.
“Going ahead, the NLC would collaborate on changing the narration with sector groups, unions, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“The character and type of the different capabilities and dispositions of the personnel have a significant impact on the results that an organization achieves.” It is also common knowledge that whatever transpires in a worker’s place of employment either motivates him to continue working or causes him to quit his job.
“There is consequently a significant functional relationship between the sensitivity of workers at any given point in time and the quantity of organizational outcomes, one of which is Safety. This is the case because there is a strong functional relationship between these two factors. A healthy staff ensures that the bottom line will be healthy as well.
It is unacceptable for some companies in the sector to continue using union-busting and union-resisting tactics in their workplaces. It is paradoxical that aviation businesses will hastily register with the various unions and associations of Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, which is a positive development, but at the same time they will refuse their workers’ rights to belong to unions that bring together workers in the industry.
In addition to this, he advocated for a healthy workforce by advocating for fast attention to welfare issues in order to guarantee safety in the industry.
He issued a challenge to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to make it essential for all pilots and engineers working in the Nigerian airspace to join to NAAPE for the welfare of the industry. He also said that all international pilots and engineers must also be required to comply with this instruction as a prerequisite for operating in the country. He said that this was for the benefit of the industry.
Additionally, Engr. Roland Ahmed of 7 Star Hangar, in his presentation, lamented the precarious state of Nigerian airlines in their current state.
Ahmed stated that the NCAA’s policy of requiring start-up airline operators to purchase six aircraft was not well-thought-out and that it could be detrimental to the business.
He stated that the reason the strategy was effective in the banking business may be the reason it is unsuccessful in the sector, and he urged the government to look internally in order to address the matter.
He continued by saying, “The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will not give you the minimum aircraft you have to start with; however, individual aviation countries would look at their economy, purchasing power, strength, and their Gross Domestic Products (GDPs) before coming out with any law or policy for operators.”
“Under the circumstances we find ourselves in right now, the possibility seems remote. We are putting the regulations through their paces. Let’s see where it takes us, but I think at some times we might want to have a rethink and see how we could go about it. ”
Ahmed also noted that working together would make the airlines more profitable; nevertheless, he dreaded the fact that the owner-manager syndrome and the existing unfavorable environment condition had persisted to make cooperation unsuccessful in the country.
During his address of welcome, the President of NAAPE, Engr. Abednego Galadima, indicated that the association selected the topic in order to encourage increased levels of safety in the industry.
In addition to this, he made the observation that the majority of the operators did not pay their employees’ salaries on time, and that problems with staff insurance, pensions, and gratuities were a significant obstacle in the industry.
He had high hopes that the topic would compel both employers and employees to work toward bettering their relationship in the workplace.
He emphasized that the workers should not receive less compensation than the employers deserved.
Aside from that, he urged the government of Rivers State to follow the route of the government of Akwa Ibom State and establish an airline and a Maintenance, Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility. He argued that doing so would result in increased earnings for the state and would also boost tourism.
In addition to this, he was against the requirement that new airlines begin with a minimum of six aircraft, which he called anti-business.
Galadima noted that the new law did not differentiate between general aviation and commercial airlines in any way, and he demanded that the NCAA change their stance in order to advance the aviation industry as a whole.
The takeoff location for six airplanes is enormous and impractical. The National Collegiate Athletic Association ought to keep a minimum of three planes available for operators. Nobody has a large beginning, not even life itself; everyone has to start somewhere. According to him, the NCAA need to continue to mandate a minimum of three planes for its operators.
