FOLLOWING the Federal Government’s failure to release the negotiated Conditions of Service (CoS) of the aviation agencies since 2013 and non-implementation of the new Minimum Wage/Consequential Adjustment since 2019, four major aviation unions – National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) is set for an industrial action (strike).
NaijaTimes gathered the aviation unions had variously issued ultimatums to the Ministry of Aviation and the six aviation agencies under it – Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) over the matter.
With the expiration of the ultimatums since January 31, 2019, and the demands not met, the unions are not ready to embark on strike, if their demands are not met before Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, February 2, jointly signed by the General Secretary of NUATE, Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN, Comrade Frances Akinjole, Secretary General of ANAP, Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu and General Secretary of AUPCTRE, Comrade Waheed Sikiru, the unions stated that the meeting called by the Ministry of Aviation on January 31, 2019 did not resolve the issues as there was no clear assurance from the management delegation towards meeting their demands.
The unions stated that they are left with no choice than to take the next obvious step, insisting that “in this regard, all aviation workers are hereby directed to commence total withdrawal of services from midnight of Tuesday 8th of Feb, 2022 unless, and until, otherwise directed in this same manner.”
“May we advise the managements of FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, NIMET, AIB and NCAT, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Aviation to utilise the one week window so provided to avert this huge crises by prevailing on the relevant government agencies to act jointly to ensure that our twin demands are met.
“All Conditions of Service of NCAA, NAMA, FAAN, NiMet and any other aviation agency pending before the Ministry of Aviation, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, or any other organ of government or Management of the agencies must be released wholly for implementation with the effective date of the signing of the agreement between our Unions and the respective agencies, and the new Minimum Wage/Consequential Adjustment must be immediately implemented with effect from the Law’s effective date of April, 2019,” the statement read.
The statement titled ‘Notice of Strike Action’ also read, “All other forms and State Councils of the undersigned Unions are to commence joint and individual mobilisation of aviation workers nationwide and ensure total compliance with this directive in all stations of operations of the six aviation agencies without fail.
“By this notice, all airlines, ground handling, aviation security/logistics, inflight catering, and other aviation related businesses as well as the travelling and general public are hereby notified that aviation services will be unavailable as from the given time until the issues are fully resolved.”
