The Society of Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (SLAMEN) has urged new members to strictly comply with all the ethics and conduct of their profession in the industry.
The President of the association, Mr Chukwuka Iloeje made this known at the First Quarterly General Meeting and General Elections at 631 Airforce Base in Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja on Sunday.
from left Eng Bukar Douglas, Secretariat Admin; Mr Edwin Obi;
Sqn Leader (Eng) Rita Kamalu, Interim Exec member; Eng Chukwuka Iloeje, President; Eng Mubarak Haladu, VP and Eng Sheri Kyari, Gen Sec, all of Society of Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers of Nigeria (SLAMEN) at the society’s Annual General Meeting and election of new National executive held at the 631 ACMD conference hall (NAF C130 hangar), Ikeja, Lagos on Saturday
Iloeje said in ensuring safety at all times, they must perform their duties excellently so as not to be found wanting in the course of their duty.
The president urged new members to be conversant with the provisions of Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, relevant Aircraft Maintenance Manuals and other requirements.
He said: “As licensed aircraft maintenance engineers, we must perform our duties diligently to give confidence to the occupants of the aircraft.
“Let us work hard to help our companies minimise delays and flight cancellations, improve financial standing and grow the businesses.”
Iloeje also appreciated the employers of labour such as the airlines, Aircraft Maintenance Organisations (AMOs) for providing them with the opportunity to practice the profession and meet the societal obligations.
The president urged them to continue to give due recognition to the importance of their profession as stipulated in the Nig. CARs and NCAA approved company manuals.
Iloeje appealed to the employers of labour to provide the required tools, spares, and equipment and also maintain good working conditions for licensed engineers to perform optimally.
“We are appealing to them to pay engineers good salaries that are commensurate with the very high responsibility bestowed on us by our duty.
“Our families need to be very comfortable for us to be in the right frame of mind always to perform safely and efficiently.
“We also passionately request our employers to give priority to training and utilising Nigerian licensed engineers for their various fleets rather than giving prominence to employing foreign personnel,” he said.
Iloeje lauded the government and its agencies’ determined efforts to provide an enabling environment for aviation growth.
He said they were happy with the recent move to restart a National carrier Nigeria Air.
The president, however, requested that after the next three years of its stabilisation, the full ownership should be restored to Nigerians.
According to him, Nigeria is too big and proud to allow a foreign African country to own the giant share in our national airline.
He said Nigeria, as the giant of Africa, should prepare for aircraft manufacture just like Brazil in South America.
Iloeje said the country should not allow another African country take the lead in this very important and nationally uplifting issue.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the association elected a new National Executive Council (NEC) to steer the activities of the society.
The new NEC members that emerged from the election were, the incumbent President, Mr Chukwuka Iloeje, Vice-President, Mr Mubarak Haladu and the General Secretary, Mr Sheri Kyari, among others.