Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
Barring any last minute changes or intervention, Unions in the aviation industry will go on a 2-day warning strike on 17th and 18th April, 2023 over the non-release of the reviewed Condition of Service, CoS as negotiated between them and four aviation agencies for upwards of nine years as well as planned demolition exercise by the Minister of Aviation of headquarters annex buildings of the aviation agencies in Lagos.
The unions, the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees threatened to withdraw their services have therefore threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if their warning strike is not taken seriously and their demands not met.
Other demands include; non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet since 2019.
”Recall our unions as named above issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and specific aviation parastatals since February 7, 2023 over the following demands: non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet since 2019, refusal of the Salaries, Income & Wages Commission, NSIWC and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, OHCSF, to release the reviewed Condition of Service, CoS, of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT and Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet , as negotiated between our unions and the Agencies, and as duly conveyed by the Federal Ministry of Aviation since upwards of nine years”.
The notice notes that, ”The ultimatum has since expired and nothing tangible has been yielded from our efforts and that of the Ministry of Aviation”.
”Furthermore, it has become evident that the Honourable Minister of Aviation remains adamant in carrying out his threat to demolish the headquarters of FAAN, NAMA and NCAA in Lagos, in spite of all our entreaties towards caution”.
The notice adds, ”In view of the foregoing, and unless the demands are met-NiMet consequential adjustments is implemented and the arrears paid, the CoS for NAMA, NCAA, NCAT and NiMet are immediately released and the Honourable Minister demolition exercise halted-all aviation workers are hereby directed to withdraw all services in the sector on 17th and 18th April, 2023 as warning strike”.
The notice warned that,” should the warning strike fail to achieve desired result, an indefinite strike action shall ensue”.
”All workers should comply unfailingly, and all state councils and branch Exco executives shall enforce this directive without compromise”.
The notice was signed by the Secretaries General of the unions, Comrade Frances Akinjole, ATSSSAN, Comrade Ocheme Aba, NUATE, Comrade Sikiru Wahab, AUPCTRE, Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu, ANAP and Comrade Umoh Ofonime and copied all heads of aviation agencies, AON, Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, all Airport Commandant and the DSS, all airports.
