BY Olapeju Olubi
Various Unions in the aviation industry have assessed the leadership of Captain Chris Najomo, the incumbent acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and gave him a thumbs-up on what they said has been a remarkable display of competent leadership since he assumed duties.
According to the elated unions, Najomo has ushered in a new era of hope and progress to the aviation sector and asked him to keep the flag flying.
They noted that under his leadership, the NCAA branch unions of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN and the National Association of Aircraft Pilot and Engineers, NAAPE, have witnessed a significant improvement in workers’ welfare, technical achievements, and industrial peace.
In a chat with journalists during the celebration of Workers Day in Lagos, Comrade Remi Aderinkomi, chairman, ATSSSAN, NCAA branch, noted that, Captain Najomo’s leadership style is characterized by his ability to listen to the concerns of workers and take concrete steps to address them, adding that, his commitment to the welfare of staff is evident in the numerous initiatives he has undertaken to improve their working conditions.
He listed some of the notable achievements under Captain Najomo’s leadership to include: prevailing on foreign airlines to reduce ticket fares and support for Air Peace to launch the Lagos-London route.
Others are, liberalizing the registration and issuance of certificates for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAVs and drones, restarting audit-compliant airlines like Max Air, achieving an excellent result in the ICAO security audit and Industrial Peace.
“His agenda is in consonance with our aviation Minister’s developmental agenda for Nigeria aviation which has workers welfare as one of the priority areas. The AG, DG NCAA Captain Chris Najomo has been working assiduously and is doing a beautiful job of redeeming the whole of our members in NCAA as well as all the workers of aviation”.
Comrade Aderinkomi emphasized that the Ag DGCA has fostered a culture of collaboration and understanding between management and workers, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.
“I want to advise every faceless and offshore blogger, reporters who are trying to destroy Captain Najomo’s towering image that they should learn and drop all their antiques because we, the workers of the NCAA, are solidly behind Captain Najomo”.
He added, “We the workers, we challenge everyone to conduct an assessment on the leadership of captain Najomo, anyone can discreetly talk to NCAA workers or to any aviation worker, whether in the public sector or the private sector, so as to gain further insight into the compassionate personality of Captain Najomo that we are talking about here”.
Similarly, Comrade Diepreye Stephen, Chairman, NAAPE, NCAA branch, said the staff expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the remarkable strides made by the Acting DG and his management team.
According to him, Captain Najomo has made it clear that the welfare of staff is his top priority and ensured the payment of arrears owed workers for a long time which has brought joy to the staff.
On workers welfare, he said, NCAA workers are happy because of the payment of rent arrears, continuation of the wage award and improvement in the welfare of contract staff.
Others he said are, increment of contract staff salary through the implementation of the Conditions of Service, CoS, resolution of promotion issues, backlog of rent and allowance, and continuous payment of wage award Payment of 2024 housing allowance.
“As soon as he came he said, my staff, your welfare is my welfare as well. ” He did not end there, our rent arrears have been owed for long, he moved to the minister and got his approval, but as I speak to you right now, he ensured everybody has been paid their rent arrears and this has brought a lot of joy to the staff”.
The NAAPE chairman, NCAA branch also praised the Open-Door Policy of the current Management which has allowed staff to express their concerns and suggestions that has led to a significant improvement in the resolution of staff welfare issues.
While expressing their gratitude and appreciation for Captain Najomo’s efforts and achievements, they pledged their unwavering support and loyalty to achieving the lofty goals and targets of propelling NCAA as the next biggest player in the world of aviation.
“Finally, on behalf of the members of NAAPE, we would like to reiterate our unwavering support and loyalty towards achieving the lofty goals and targets of propelling NCAA as the next biggest goal and the major player in the world of aviation”.
