The Amalgamated Union of Motor and Technicians of Nigeria (AUOMMATION) has solicited government support to train over 5000 mechanics and technicians in the conversion of petrol-powered vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered.
It also appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to provide an enabling environment, land allocation, modern training and working tools, among others to enable the artisan to learn the conversion process.
The National President of the union, Oseni Suleiman, while briefing the press in Abuja, on the coming together of all the auto spare part dealers associations under one umbrella, revealed that the union with over 35 million members across the country, has earmarked about 5000 artisans to be trained.
He said: “We shall be seeking Federal and State Government support for our trade union, especially the FCT administration, led by Nyesom Wike, in providing an enabling environment, land allocation, modern training, provision of working tools and other important governmental supports that will be of immense benefits to our vast members across the country.
“As for us, we have been complementing the government’s efforts at various levels even as different mechanics associations previously, but now that we have come together as one big body (a trade union), we are surely going to do better in collaborating and complementing government policies at all levels, especially the renewed hope of President Bola Tinubu.
“About 5,000 of our artisans are already earmarked for the training in batches across the country. We shall soon begin to reach out to various state governments in Nigeria, corporate individuals, private companies, individuals and well-meaning Nigerians for possible sponsorship of our proposed trainees. These we are very sure will go a long way in complementing the Federal Government’s plans of making life easier for all Nigerians.”
Speaking of women participating in mechanic jobs, the first lady mechanic in Nigeria, Sandra Aguebor, said: “We are going to pull a whole lot of them out to join us in what we are doing to make sure that the youths of Nigeria can use their hands.
“I believe when I put my hands inside the deep black engine oil, to me that is my pancake. To me, that is money. So, I have been able to tell women out there that that black engine oil you see is better than the perfume you spray out there and just go out.”
