Correcting lopsided recruitments in aviation sector

THERE is a Yoruba language that says’ ashes of 10 years is still capable of burning anyone,’ literarily meaning that an illegality done years back may always  boomerang, no matter how long.

Generally speaking, Nigeria will be a better and more peaceful place if those occupying leadership positions can think ahead of what may likely be the effects of their actions, even after leaving the office.

Presently, some actions taken in the recent past have continued to haunt the progress of the country’s aviation sector, which, if not well managed, is capable of creating a dangerous precedence.

Without any doubt, there is an existence of animosity and low morale amongst aviation workers, following the controversial recruitments and employments carried out by the immediate past minister of aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

The last minute recruitments and employments fell short of all good principles needed to propel a sector like aviation forward to meet international standards, particularly as it affects the personnel driving the growth of the sector.

Without doubt, aviation is a sector that is not meant for every ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’, because of its highly regulated nature and the sensitive role it plays in connecting Nigeria to other parts of the world, apart from the huge financial capacity it generates to the coffers of government.

It is, however, unfortunate that such a sector, which requires absolute concentration where the workers who lay the proverbial golden eggs for its survival should have continually enjoyed fair treatments, in line with the labour laws, federal  quota status and the civil service rules guiding promotion and employment by merits, has been taken over by tribal and political shenanigans.

It is, therefore, not a surprise that six months after the immediate past minister of aviation left office, some of his bad policies have continued to cause agitation in the sector.

One of his most audacious actions was the employments and recruitment exercise he conducted in the agencies at the twilight of his tenure, which has been generating criticisms among the different key players.

The latest of such agitation is coming from a renowned labour leader in the sector, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, who raised the alarm about the bombardment of the sector with almost 6,000 workers by past minister in his eight-year tenure.

Abioye, a former general secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE),  in his prayer to the present minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, accused the former minister of “recruiting various shades of elements, both qualified or otherwise, into various positions within our agencies”.

According to the union leader, those recruited  were given appointments into various cadres of which they were not qualified to take while, on the contrary, enjoy  superiority over workers who had persevered over the years, working assiduously and looking forward to their promotion, elevation and placement in concordance with approved rules of their engagement.

Abioye, though said he would not call for the removal or dismissal of the affected workers, but urged the present minister to review the controversial employments and recruitments which he said did not follow due process.

While insisting that appointments, recruitments and employments must be regularised in such a holistic manner while those who were not qualified for their present positions be relieved and placed in their proper and normal positions, Abioye declared: “Our Industry is most especially technically based and having many non-technical and professional personnel in their places creates a great lacuna which must be reviewed and necessary corrections made immediately as you will be doing the nation’s aviation sector a great service”.

Without doubt, Abioye has spoken the minds of many stakeholders who are the ones directly feeling the implications of the former minister’s policies.

Agreed that while there is nothing bad in a minister appointing or recruiting the right personnel or helping cronies, such action should be done with human face, in line with conscience and the federal character policy and not at the detriment of the merited workers.

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