Unions kick against appointment in FAAN

Aviation unions on Thursday protested the Federal Government’s appointment of "an outsider" as the General Manager, Finance of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

According to the unions, the position was meant for career civil servants.

The unions including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) made their position known during a peaceful protest at the FAAN headquarters at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

Daily Trust had earlier reported on Wednesday of the grumblings over recent appointments made in the sector by the government.

The government through the Ministry of Transportation had sacked seven directors of NCAA last Friday and on same day announced the appointment of three Directors at FAAN as well as General Manager, Finance.

General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye noted that the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had earlier assured the unions that outsiders would not be given positions that should go for career civil servants in the sector.

He said, “After a critical analysis of the appointment, we have observed that there was an error in bringing in an outsider to head the Department of Finance, FAAN, and we are saying no to such appointment.

"The position he is being given is a career position and the minister has already told us that he doesn’t want outsiders to come and hijack any position in FAAN".

Abioye added that the unions were at the same time studying other political appointments made in the NCAA and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

He said, "We have found some errors in those appointments and at the appropriate time, we will react even though the government has the prerogative power of appointment into any directorate level.

"We are going to communicate our position in writing to the minister because if this industry must move forward, only capable persons who have the prerequisite experiences should  be given appointments.

General Secretary, NAAPE, Comrade Aba Ocheme stressed that the idea of bringing in outsiders to hold critical positions in an organization is capable of demoralizing the workers and making them less productive.