Arik

Arik Air, Nigeria’s leading airline, has emerged the airline of the decade 2010-2020 at the Travellers Award 2020 organised by publishers of African Travel Quarterly Travellers magazine.

It’s PR and Communications manager, Mr Adebanji Ola, said in a statement on Sunday in Lagos, that the awards ceremony was held on March 27 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

Ola said the award attracted two ambassadors, commissioners of Tourism and Culture from four states as well as top travel agents and tour operators.

The statement quoted the publisher of ATQ magazine and Tourism ambassador, Mr Ikechi Ukoh said Arik Air was the obvious choice for the Airline of the Decade 2010-2020 because “it still holds the flag of its time in the sun”.

According to him, “Arik Air is still a global brand from Nigeria, kudos goes to the founders and the workers who helped build the brand”.

“Arik Air has also so far proved resilient as well as demystified the myth that no Nigerian carrier with 10 aircraft last beyond 10 years.

Responding while receiving the award from the Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Wendell De Landro, Arik Air’s Chief Pilot, Capt. Chris Najomo thanked the organisers of the award for finding the airline worthy of the honour.

He said Arik Air would continue to be a safe, reliable and customer focused carrier.

Arik Air which was founded in 2006 is now under receivership following the takeover of its management by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in February 2017.

Nigeria calls for full democratisation of ILO

Nigeria has again called for the full democratisation of the International Labour Organisation(ILO).

This is to ensure full, equal and democratic participation of the member states in its governance.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, made the appeal in a statement by Mr Charles Akpan, Deputy Director Press and Public Relations in the ministry on Sunday in Abuja.

Ngige made the appeal while presenting a comprehensive report on democratisation of ILO governance during a virtual meeting of the Tripartite Working Group of the ILO Governing Board.

He noted that the long history of democratisation of the ILO featured in the amendment of its constitution in 1986.

He said that there was need for the subsequent call for the ratification of the amendment instrument.

He, however, regretted that the amendments were yet to take effect after more than three decades, since they were initiated.

He added that this was due to reservations by some member states against its ratification.

The minister noted that the Centenary Declaration in 2019 provided another opportunity to revisit the democratisation.

He said that this led to the setting up of a Tripartite Working Group co-chaired by Nigeria and Switzerland.

“My delegation commends the Working Group and the cooperation of members for successfully guiding focus discussion and dialogue on its mandate.

”The identification and deliberation of major impediments to the ratification by some member states in the constitution is both instructive and commendable.

“The outcome of the discussion which enjoyed majority support culminated in the submission of the conference resolution for recommendation to the 109th session of the ILC for adoption.

“The unrelenting push for the ratification of the amendments will send a clear signal about our collective resolve to walk the talk in building an inclusive world class assembly for all member states,” he said.

Ngige also called for the extension of the life span of the Tripartite Working Group to enable it fully achieve its objectives.

He added that Nigeria is optimistic that the expected threshold for entering into force of the instrument of ratification will be achieved with an extension for another 12 months.

The minister also said that Nigeria was happy that six additional countries have adopted the ratification since the centenary declaration in 2019.

“We acknowledge the Republic of Moldova, Spain and Somalia for joining the list.

”We strongly appeal to the remaining nine countries including members of the chief industrial importance to make our centenary aspiration a reality by registering their ratification,” he said.

Ngige expressed Nigeria’s willingness to cooperate and support member states who have challenges in ratifying the instrument.

He also expressed confidence that the group would make significant progress in getting more members ratify the amendments before the oncoming 343 session of the ILO governing body in November.

“We encourage the office to continue its promotional campaign for ratification of the instrument by member states,” he added.

It would be recalled that Nigeria had taken the lead in the push for the full democratisation of the ILO during the 331 session of the Governing Board in November 2017.

Africa Ministers also came up with a single agenda of total elimination of the vestiges of colonialism in ILO and nominated Sen. Ngige to lead the charge during the session.