The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and the Nigeria Aviation Fire and Safety Association (NAFSA) have agreed to partner on ensuring safety and share ideas on critical issues in the Nigeria aviation industry.
This is just as the two bodies have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a date that would be agreed on by the two parties .
The two professional bodies disclosed this on Tuesday at NAAPE Secretariat in Lagos when NAFSA Executive paid a partnership visit .
Speaking at the visit, the President of NAAPE, Engineer, Abednego , Galadima who led the team from his group to receive the visiting NASFA Executives thanked the visitors for the visit, adding that NAAPE value the service the association provide 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 the body.
The NAAPE President pointed out that as professional body, the union protects the interest of its members in particular and also promote safety and growth in the aviation sector in general.
Aviation, he said, is safety driven sector, adding that with collaboration, aviation 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 with Nigerian Air Traffic Controlllers 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 wants to also collaborate with us, we welcome you with open arm.
“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 who said that though not all members of his executives members were in attendance at the meeting though were fully aware of the collaborative meeting with NAAPE; added that they would all be in attendance in the next meeting.
Ugbeikwu disclosed that though 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 the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)who , 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.
Ugbeikwu noted that aviation business is collaborative one and that no one professional union can do it alone, hence the Tuesday meeting with NAAPE having met with NATCA previously.
According to him, “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.”
