ARISING from a Joint Action Committee ( JAC) meeting held on October 9, 2020 national unions in the aviation industry have resolved to boycott series of meetings called at the behest of the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika stating that it is an attempt to justify the planned concession program.
The Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria(ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals ( ANAP) and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners( NUP) made this known in a bulletin dated October 9, 2020.
Last week, the unions had issued a seven (7) day ultimatum to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) declaring a dispute and demanding payment of salaries, gratuity and other emoluments to avert an industrial action but the indication from labour is that they will not be meeting the minister. Read also: Unions issue FAAN 7-day ultimatum over salaries, outstanding allowances
In an effort to stall the unions’ action which may commence October 14, 2020Â after the expiry of the ultimatum issued, a series of meetings were lined up in regions of the country all through next week to meet with staff however, the unions have warned it’s members to steer clear.
An internal memo also obtained by our reporter dated October 8th titled: Invitation for a Meeting with the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika with ref: FAAN/HA/1A/400/19/Vol 4/39 signed by M.D. Musa the General Manager Administration slated the meeting with all staff is an interactive session to discuss the challenges meted on the agency by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The letter read in part:” It is an interactive session aimed at addressing the prevailing challenges facing FAAN in particular and the aviation industry in general, occasioned by the COVID-19 global pandemic.
“All staff are therefore enjoined to avail themselves of this unique opportunity offered by the honourable minister to present issues bothering their welfare among other challenges, offer suggestions that will move the organisation forward.
The meetings are scheduled to hold in the SouthWest in Lagos on Monday October 12, South South/ South East in Port Harcourt on Tuesday October 13th; North Central in Abuja on Thursday October 15th and North West/East in Kano on Friday October 16.
However, a bulletin obtained by Nigerianflightdeck from Unions to staff read,” Arising from the extraordinary emergency meeting of JAC held on the 9th October, 2020 the JAC -in-session resolves that all FAAN staff should boycott the invitation in all regions. We view it as an attempt to justify the planned concession program. It is the right of the Labour to boycott any meeting under Labour Law. The fight for the survival of the soul of FAAN has begun,” the bulletin read.
Apart from the planned boycott of these meetings in the region the unions insisted that FAAN management meets its demands ranging from remittance of ₦105.3 billion actuarial valuation as at 2016, remittance of all pension deduction to the Pension Fund Administrators ( PFA), immediate preparation of 2020 actuarial valuation.
Others include immediate remittance of all cooperative deductions, immediate payment of (i) child education grant (ii) leave allowance (iii) furniture grant (iv) gratuity (v) Covid-19 palliatives (vi) death benefits (vii) other claims.
The unions also demanded immediate payment of outstanding salaries, full payment of salaries and pensions subsequently; immediate release of Conditions of Service (COS) and immediate implementation of new national minimum wage.
