NAMA’s Oluwole Dada Declares Interest in ATSSSAN Presidency, Promises Inclusive, Reform-Driven Leadership
A senior Air Traffic Controller and Deputy General Manager (Operations) at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Comrade Oluwole Dada, has formally announced his intention to contest for the position of National President of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), pledging a new era of constructive engagement, constitutional reforms, and leadership anchored on equity, fairness, and inclusiveness.
Dada made his declaration in Lagos at the weekend, where he told journalists and supporters that his administration, if elected, would prioritise solution-driven dialogue with management authorities, stressing that the union must adopt a more collaborative approach that promotes mutual respect, open communication, and cooperation rather than continuous confrontation.
He noted that the ATSSSAN constitution was overdue for review, insisting that the framework currently in use no longer reflects the realities of the union’s diverse membership.
According to him, the union must be restructured in a way that ensures fair and balanced representation across both public and private sector affiliates.
“The private sector arms of our union have been yearning for an opportunity to contribute to leadership. We must make inclusiveness a reality and give everyone a sense of BELONGING,” he said.
The ATSSSAN presidential hopeful, who also serves as Chairman of ATSSSAN NAMA Branch, said his leadership would focus strongly on members’ welfare, adding that no worker should be placed at a disadvantage under any circumstance.
He vowed to uphold members’ dignity, improve welfare packages, and ensure that Secretariat staff are adequately motivated and fairly remunerated for their service.
Dada stressed that his administration would strengthen ongoing engagements with affiliate bodies on welfare and service conditions, while working to deepen unity and consolidate internal peace within the union.
“As a thoroughbred professional in the aviation industry, I will drive the union to greater heights for the benefit of all branches. We must unite and resolve internal differences for the collective good of our members,” he affirmed.
Speaking on post-election harmony, Dada maintained that he would prioritise reconciliation to ensure that the union remains a single indivisible body regardless of election outcomes. He lamented the division that often follows union elections, cautioning that such rifts weaken the labour movement.
“The greatest problem about elections is what happens afterward. If elected, I will ensure genuine engagement with all parties to promote peace and progress within the union,” he assured.
Dada also condemned what he described as an unhealthy pattern in the aviation labour space where the heads of the three major unions have consistently emerged from just one organisation, stressing that the practice was unfair and detrimental to unity.
“Must all union presidents come from one organisation, as if others lack capable leaders? It is not healthy, not fair, and not good for the industry,” he cautioned.
Touching on national aviation issues, he declared that the controversial airport concession process must prioritise workers’ interest and welfare.
He warned that the industry must avoid a repeat of the Nigeria Airways episode, where thousands of workers were left stranded without proper settlement.
“We will not allow the airport concession process to go the way of the defunct Nigeria Airways, where workers were left to suffer without their entitlements. All staff issues and liabilities must be fully resolved before any concession takes place,” he stated.
Dada also pledged to tackle the lingering issue of casualisation in the aviation industry, highlighting the success recorded in NAMA where casual staff were systematically absorbed into full employment through sustained negotiations.
He further promised to unionise more organisations within the aviation sector through peaceful engagement, in order to expand the union’s influence and capacity to protect aviation workers.
Concluding, Dada assured ATSSSAN members of a principled, transparent, and accountable presidency if elected, insisting that every member – regardless of cadre or employer – would enjoy equal treatment.
“Every member of ATSSSAN will be treated equally. My administration will be anchored on integrity, fairness, and discipline for the good of all,” he affirmed.
