NUATE hails inauguration of committee on national carrier

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has expressed satisfaction with the federal government over the inauguration of a committee on National Airline for the country.

The federal government had two weeks ago constituted a 13-man committee to consult with international partners for the establishment of a national airline for Nigeria.

In an exclusive chat with The Guardian, NUATEs General Secretary, Olayinka  Abioye described federal governments gesture as a welcome development but insisted that membership of the committee is not a true representation of all the stakeholders in the industry.

According to him, ‘it is important for us to commend the federal government for taking that bold initiative which did not come to us as a surprise. This is because we have been putting pressure on federal government to work on the national carrier.

We are however very uncomfortable with the composition of the committee members. We expect all the trade unions in the industry to be represented.

If you look at several members of that committee, they are either chief executive officers of government agencies or chief executive of airlines, how do you expect a chief executive officer of an airline to come and midwife the process of giving birth to another airline? But the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation Mrs. Binta Bello has expressed hope of positive outcome this time.

According to her: “it is my hope that this committee will pursue this assignment with all commitment and vigour, bearing in mind its objectives, the importance and benefits of this national project.” The committee is headed by Capt. Muhammed Abdulsalam who is a former managing director of Discovery Airlines.