THE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Saturday, backed the Federal Government's plan to acquire 30 aircrafts to boost domestic operations in the aviation industry.
Mr. Musa Lawal, TUC's General Secretary, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the congress is supportive of any policy that would enable government achieve its objectives.
Lawal was reacting to the disclosure by General Manager (Corporate Communications) Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Dati, of the government's plan while inspecting the renovated Benin Airport.
Dati had said that the aircrafts would be distributed to domestic airline operators, a departure from the old practice, where they were given money from the Aviation Intervention Fund to shore up their businesses.
"We are not against the government leasing aircrafts to private operators who can manage them very well and return our money because the planes will be bought with public funds," Lawal said.
He said in the past, Nigeria Airways was grounded because some people booked seats without paying under the guise of being on official duty.
The TUC scribe said that government must ensure that funds to be invested in the planes are recovered. He urged government to learn from past mistakes and ensure that the exercise is well executed to achieve intended results.
Lawal said government must also be ready to face reality, admit its mistakes and make corrections where necessary.
"The government has good intentions but if the implementation goes wrong, it should have the courage to admit and make amends," he said.
