Industrial Action: NCAA staff pass vote of no confidence on unions, continue strike

IN a new twist, despite unions reaching a late agreement with Minister of State (Aviation), Sen. Hadi Sirika last night to cease action, staff of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have continued their action while passing a vote of no confidence on the unions.

Yesterday after the strike the Minister of State (Aviation), Sen. Hadi Sirika had a meeting with the four (4) unions (ANAP, ATSSSAN, NAAPE and NUATE) who were invited to Abuja for a lasting resolution however their resolution may not have suited the staff as they have continued their protest unabated.

The NCAA staff who are currently marching around the airport with their placards and singing solidarity songs have directed that no union member should march with them since they have compromised and the staff no longer have faith in them or their activities.

Sirika yesterday during negotiations with the unions said, “It is true that they have come on our invitation to discuss on the contentious issues that caused the commencement of industrial action,”said the minister.

While enumerating the issues brought forward by the unions, Sirika commented: “One of the issues is the non-conformity with the act of appointment of boards.

“The other one is on the conditions of service and the minister said, “the salaries and wages is outside our purview and I have volunteered tomorrow to visit the Salaries and Wages and ask them to rush the process of approving the conditions of service”.

“Regarding the organogram, which is the really the meat of the matter not degrading the other two. This one is more pressing and we going to set up a committee within one week and rectify the grey areas and come to something that is mutually accepted by all. The unions will be part of the committee”

The National President of ATSSSAN, Comrade Illitrus Ahmadu who spoke on behalf of the union after the meeting the minister said both parties have agreed on certain understanding.
“We met on the invitation of the minster to discuss the way forward with regards to strike action embarked on by the unions in NCAA on the organogram, conditions of service and allied issues. We had a very rich mutual deliberations. We have agreed on certain understanding between us, which we believe will resolve the issues”

I must say that we are satisfied at this level. Ministry has promise to address the organogram issue within the period of seven days and the minister has promised to pay a visit to the National Salaries and Wages tomorrow in the company of the DG NCAA and some other officials. He has also promised to look into the issue of the board and assured that as soon as the new regime is inaugurated, boards will be constituted.

We are at this stage of looking forward to the implementation of the decisions reached in the interest of all. We are returning to Lagos to brief our people and announced the suspension of the strike.

It would however seem that the staff of the company do not believe in the unions’ promises alleging some hanky panky and have taken matters into their hands.