Aviation union workers in Nigeria have threatened to suspend their services across airports from April 17 to April 18, 2023, which may lead to flight disruptions.
The strike action will become indefinite if the two-day warning strike fails, according to a memo signed by the leadership of five unions.
The aviation unions include the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees.
The aviation unions have demanded the release of the review of their condition of service (CoS) as negotiated between the workers and four aviation agencies. They also expressed their concerns about the non-implementation of the national minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for workers of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency since 2019.
The workers have also opposed the planned demolition of aviation agency buildings in Lagos to pave the way for an airport city project initiated by Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation.
Senator Hadi Sirika, Aviation Minister
The groups stated that a 14-day ultimatum given to the minister on the matter had expired, and nothing tangible had been yielded from their efforts.
“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,” the memo reads.
“…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 the 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 aviation unions have asked that all members comply with the directive, while all state councils, branches, and executives have been urged to enforce the directive without compromise.
Last year, the labour unions had threatened a strike over the same issues raised but suspended the action after signing a memorandum of settlement (MoS) with the federal government.
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