The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) has reaffirmed his commitment to rebranding the Nigeria’s Aviation Sector.
While delivering his speech on Friday, 2nd of February, 2024 during the just concluded 10th edition of the Aviation Workers’ Week and award night tagged “Workers As Strategic Partners In Achieving Aviation Roadmap” held at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja, Keyamo noted that the Aviation workforce remains critical to achieving his five-point Aviation agenda aimed at transforming the sector.
He further added that the annual occasion of the Aviation week signals the bound in the Aviation family which in all intense and purposes is geared towards redefining the paths to prosperity in the sector. He noted that the present government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR places high premium on every sector of the nation’s economy through the renewed hope agenda. He added that the Aviation Sector is not only dear to Mr. President but he also considers it as a springboard to jumpstart the revitalization of a fast-failing industry.
Keyamo said, he has conscientiously taken a detailed study of the prospects and challenges in the Aviation sector with a view to rapidly improving upon the status quo. Among the strategies adopted was the redesigning a five-point agenda targeted at rebranding the critical components in the existing Aviation roadmap.
He applauded the foresights and total commitments of the Aviation workers to support, collaborate and key into the vision of transforming the Aviation sector while noting that the team of the event which obviously seeks to harness the potentialities inherent in the Aviation road map was the view and perception of workers representatives who are critical stakeholders in the Aviation sector.
While encouraging active participation of the Aviation workers and unions, the Minister noted that “the job at hand may be enormous, however, with a cautious diagnosis of the major symptoms and challenges plaguing the sector, the management team in the ministry and across the agencies are poised to change the narrative and a make a difference”.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr Emmanuel C. Meribole who was represented by the Director Human Resources, Mrs Nwokocha Nkechi Miriam, while delivering the welcome address earlier at the event said, the choice of theme for the discussion at the Aviation week by seasoned Aviation professionals and analysts is not a coincidence rather a well thought out initiative, Indeed. She said the five-point agenda and the Aviation roadmap is expected to redefine the focus of the Aviation industry and fast track the attainment of set targets and deliverables in line with the renewed hope agenda of the present Government.
She further stated that the theme of the ongoing event would stimulate insightful discussions and critical roles expected of Aviation workers in achieving full implementation and success of the Aviation roadmap.
The Chairman of the Joint Consultative and Negotiation Council JCNC of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Comrade Hector Nnadi while addressing workers and stakeholders said, ‘’indeed the roles of workers in actualizing the five points agenda anchored on the new Aviation roadmap can’t be overemphasized. It is therefore not a coincidence that this year’s theme intends to focus on the Key Performance Index (FPI) and Key Performance Results (KPRS) as may be achieved through workers support and collaboration’’.
He emphasized that over the years, the critical role of workers has not received the desired attention from the drivers of the Aviation roadmap hence the minimum results achieved.
The Chairman however noted that the unions engagement with the Honorable Minister lies in a new era of partnership between the drivers of the policies and the workers who are mostly on the field.
He said “our loyalty to your planned vision for the sector is undoubtedly unwavering. We shall help drive the five-point agenda in line with the Renewed Hope Mantra of the present administration”.
In attendance at the event was Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Professor Charles Anosike as well as other dignitaries.