Workers of the different aviation agencies are now living in fear that their jobs may no longer be safe following the approval by the Federal Government of the merger of the agencies.
The Federal Government had on Monday announced its approval of the merger of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and Nigerian Meteorological Agency as part of efforts to restructure its commissions and agencies.
Investigations by our correspondent at the affected agencies on Wednesday and Thursday revealed that the workers were in a state of apprehension over the impending job losses, as they were seen huddled in small groups and discussing in low tones.
The recommendation for the merger of the agencies was one of the highlights of the White Paper issued by government on the report of the Steve Oronsaye-led Presidential Committee on the Restructuring and Rationalisation of Public Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies.
According to the document, the three agencies in the aviation sector will fuse into a new body to be known as the Federal Civil Aviation Authority. Their respective enabling laws are to be amended accordingly to reflect the merger.
An employee of the NCAA, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the workers were unsure of their next line of action since the announcement of the merger.
He said, “Ever since we heard that announcement, I can tell you that everyone is uncomfortable around here, because we are not just sure of our jobs anymore. If this planned merger goes through, it is almost certain that some people would have to go, because you cannot fuse three different parastatals together and still expect things to continue as usual.
“You know how difficult things are in this country; if one loses his/her job, it is usually very difficult to get another one; so, all I can tell you is that there is a great level of uncertainty in the office here.”
An employee of NAMA, who simply gave her name as Kemi, noted that even those in management positions at the agency were afraid of their continued stay in their respective jobs as a result of the merger announcement.
“No one seems safe at this time. I mean, if they could change the heads of the parastatals just like that a few weeks ago, is it at this time when they are trying to merge that people will not be worried?,” she asked.
Meanwhile, many stakeholders have kicked against the merger of the agencies, saying that it was not a healthy development for the aviation industry.
They also said the move might make Nigeria to lose the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration Category One status.
The Executive Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria, Capt. Nogie Meggison, said, “It seems that Nigeria is attempting to go back to the obsolete form. It is like a move from analogue to digital and the country want to go back to the analogue system again. It seems the country is doing everything to fail the US FAA Category One status.
“We know that the government is trying to cut cost because of the recurrent expenditure being 80 per cent of the budget, but these agencies are self-sustaining without the government funding them. We plead with the government to take a second look at the recommendation because of the danger it portends for the industry at large.”
Copyright PUNCH.
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