3rd from right, NAAPE President, Galadima, President of NAFSA, Ugbeikwu and officials of both unions in a group photograph at the NAAPE secretariat shortly after the visit.
The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and the Nigeria Aviation Fire and Safety Association (NAFSA) have revealed plans of partnership geared towards safety and sharing of ideas on critical issues in the Nigerian aviation industry.
In view of this, the two unions have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a date that would be agreed on by the two parties .
The two professional unions disclosed this Tuesday at NAAPE Secretariat in Lagos when NAFSA executive paid NAAPE a partnership visit.
Speaking at the visit , the President of NAAPE, Engineer Abednego Galadima, who led the aircraft pilot and engineer body to receive the visiting NASFA exco thanked the visitors for the visit, adding that NAAPE values the service the association provides for the aviation sector especially for pilots and engineers.
Galadima urged the NAFSA officials to feel free to state what the association is doing and how NAAPE can come in and partner with it.
He pointed out that as a professional body, the union protects the interest of its members in particular and also promotes safety and growth in the aviation sector in general.
Aviation, he said is a safety driven sector, adding that with collaboration the industry would further be enhanced.
“In labour movement, the more the merrier. Aviation is a safety critical industry and team work is very important.
“We have collaborated wit the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and as a result we have NAAPE-NATCA forum where we share ideas on how to move the industry forward.
“Now that NAFSA want to also collaborate with us, we welcome you with open arms.
“Even if we have to sign MoU on critical issues, we are ready.
“We are unions who support companies to grow not to pull down organisations.
“We are in the union to protect the interest of our members,” he reiterated.
On his part, the President of NAFSA, Comrade, Sunday Ugbeikwu, said that though not all the members of the executive are attending the collaborative meeting they are fully aware of the collaborative move with NAAPE.
He added that in a subsequent meeting NAFSA will be attending in full strength.
Ugbeikwu disclosed that NAFSA has its secretariat in Lagos but that the association has its branches in all the airports in the country.
NAFSA, he informed is saddled with the responsibility of collaborating, liaising, cooperating and encouraging the relevant authorities in the aviation industry.
“We know what we are doing and we know we can always do better with the collaboration with NAAPE because we are service driven but unfortunately most people at the leadership positions are not service driven,” he said.
He hinted that this is not the first professional union NAFSA is partnering with, adding that the association has also met with the leadership of NATCA which also has a very vibrant professional union like NAAPE.
He pointed out that no government or entity can establish an airport without the services of NAAPE, NATCA and NAFSA.
Ugbeikwun noted that aviation business is a collaborative one and that no one professional union can do it alone, hence the meeting today with NAAPE having met with NATCA previously.
“We cannot pursue the course of our members without the assistance of these unions .
“The collaboration is to support; partner more to move the industry forward,” he announced.
