Labour unions in the Aviation industry made up of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Association of Air Transport Pilots and Employees (NAAPE), have declared an indefinite strike taking effect from today.
This is following the expiration of an earlier seven-day ultimatum it issued the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over failure to have their demands met.
According to a statement by the union, the industrial action which commenced from 5 a.m. today will disrupt flight activities.
The General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Ocheme Aba; Deputy General Secretary, ATSSSAN, Comrade Frances Akinjole; Secretary General ANAP, Comrade Abdulrazaq Saidu; Deputy General Secretary, NAAPE, Comrade Umoh Ofonime had, in the notice, said that the Aviation Ministry had failed to address its demands.
“Having therefore exhausted all efforts and patience on the issues, we are left with no other option. Our unions hereby direct all staff of NCAA nationwide to commence an indefinite industrial action with effect from 0500hrs on Wednesday, 22nd May, 2019,” the unions said.
Meanwhile, reacting to the issue, the General Manager of Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Sam Adurogboye apologized for any inconvenience as a result of the strike action.
Adurogboye who was speaking with MMS Plus earlier today, lamented that the issue raised by the aviation union is beyond the jurisdiction of management of NCAA.
“The organogram is not approved within NCAA. The authority cannot inaugurate a board for itself and it is something that will be done by the federal government. So all the issues they raised are actually beyond us”, he said.
He also disclosed that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has invited the unions for a meeting in order to resolve the issue.
He expressed optimism that the strike action would be shelved. “We hope that when they go for the meeting, everything will be resolved” he said.
