Stakeholders including union leaders and experts in the aviation industry yesterday rejected the directive by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, asking all aviation agencies to relocate to Abuja within the next 45 days.
Sirika had in a letter dated May 4, 2020 FMA/PMD/7061/T/4 signed by the Director, Human Resource Management, Alhaji Mohammad Shehu, argued that the relocation order was premised on the current global economic situation and the need to reduce cost of governance.
The affected agencies include the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).
Daily Trust on Sunday reports that since the directive was issued, stakeholders have kicked against it, arguing that Lagos remained the centre of aviation and almost 80 per cent of flights emanate from Lagos.
Speaking with our correspondent yesterday, the president of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Illitrus Ahmadu, said though the directive is not new, it is not feasible now that the industry is battling the COVID-19 crisis.
International and local fight operations are currently suspended following the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria.
Condemning the timing of the directive, the labour leader said the position of the unions had always been that labour issues must be properly addressed in terms of payment of relocation allowances for staff.
Also speaking, the president of Aviation Roundtable and Safety Initiative (ART), Dr. Gbenga Olowo, queried the timing of the directive.
He also warned that the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), in Lagos which takes 70 per cent of the air traffic could suffer “administrative slack” if the seat of control was relocated to Abuja.
Besides, he noted that the autonomy of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) could be threatened by political interference.
