The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has said the nation’s economic recession is hitting hard on the aviation sector.
National President of ATSSSAN, Comrade Ahmadu Ilitrus disclosed this on Friday, saying the situation has been exacerbated by the perennial scarcity and high cost of aviation fuel (Jet A1) as well as aircraft maintenance parameters.
In his May Day speech delivered at the Lagos Airport, ATSSSAN President also restated workers’ opposition to the planned concession of four major airports by the Federal Government, insisting it is a security risk and economic terrorism.
Ilitrus who chronicled the state of aviation decried what he called the mismanagement in the sector, including “ungodly interventions of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which priorities capitals over labour concerns in some aviation undertakings, one of which is the present precarious situation our members of the Aero Contractors Airlines are been faced with”.
He also lamented alleged anti-labour posture of denying workers the right to unionism by some private companies including Dana Air; Med-View Air; Bi-Courtney; Execujet and Arik Air, which according to him is contrary to section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and other extant labour laws.
“Unsavory government policies which unduly interfere in the administration of the agencies in the aviation sectors such as the career invasion through imposition of managers from outside by the ministry to the detriment of the principle of career progression de-motivates and tend to dampen the morale of the toiling personnel are also part of it”, llitrus said.
