May 23, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika, says the ministry is determined to resolve all outstanding industrial related matters within the shortest time possible
Sirika, who spoke at the 2022 Annual Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council (JCNC) retreat in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, commended the unions for what he called display of commitment and patriotism by suspending the recent industrial action.
Sirika, who was represented by the Director of Human Resources in the ministry, Shehu Dogo, said the adoption of automation systems has fundamentally raised personnel management in workplace and boost productivity.
He noted that all over the world, the automation process in contemporary public and private organisations has been adopted, making it norm and culture.
Sirika said the aviation sector of the nation’s economy was set to spearhead and deepen adoption of automation in its agencies, with a view to raising work standards among aviation workers and enhance revenue generation in all revenue-generating agencies under the supervision of the ministry.
He commended the JCNC for sustaining the noble initiative also various aviation unions in the industry for identifying with the Joint Aviation Trade Unions’ Forum -JATUF
He expressed hope that the depth of knowledge and experiences shared among the resource persons and participants will enhance future engagements with management of government and private organisations in the struggle for improved welfare in workplace
The Chairman of the Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council JCNC, Comrade Hector Nnadi, in his address said the retreat, which attracted over 80 participants, was organised to examine the way forward in sustaining industrial harmony in the workplace and growth of the aviation industry. It was also an avenue to take appraisal of the unions strategy in negotiating for the welfare of aviation workers and better workplace environment.
Comrade Nnadi said it was time for the unions to tell themselves the truth in view of happenings in the industry as it relates to industrial relations issue such as strike, protests viz a vis global labour best practices in view of the apparent fact that aviation is global.
He said the retreat provided the opportunity to look at how the labour leaders as strategic social partners to management of both government and private sectors could through synergy and technology, help to improve the system that survives us and the working class without destroying it.
According to him, though the time for the retreat was short, it was agreed that labour leaders should come together to take an overview of the sector, especially automation, how personnel performance can help drive some of the new policies and how unions can also engage authorities strategically.
The JCNC boss said recently that JCNC went round the geo-political zones to sensitise workers on the issue of personnel automation, adding that there was need to talk to leaders of the workers, hence the retreat was organised in Calabar by the Ministry of Aviation.
Nnadi said they were colaborating to ensure that people were not caught unaware when the policies will commence.
He commended the Minister of Aviation, Permanent Secretary and Director of Human Resource in the ministry for their role in the workers’ welfare.
The theme of the retreat was “Labour Leaders as strategic partners in driving the automation of personnel performance management system in the aviation sector.”
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
