Reports indicate that travellers across Nigeria will have to seek alternative resolution, as the aviation unions begin a two-day warning strike.
They described the working conditions and entitlements as “unpalatable,” which is the background against which the development is taking place.
The unions involved include National Union of Air Transport Employee, NUATE; Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN; National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, and Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, ANAP.
Following a deadlock in their meeting with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), it was learned that union members blocked the entrance to the domestic terminal at Murtala Muhammad Airport, stranding many travellers with flights also grounded
Capt. Musa Nuhu, Director-General of Civil Aviation for the NCAA, had requested that the union postpone their two-day warning strike while union representatives were present.
Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Aviation, who was present at the meeting, also asked the union to call off its scheduled strike action.
The union, however, disregarded the request and insisted on carrying out their warning strike.
The workers are requesting that the condition of service (CoS), which was reached through negotiations with the Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), the office of the president of the federation’s civil service, and other organisations, be approved and put into effect.
Others include the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) failure to apply minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears since 2019 and the minister of aviation’s planned demolition of all agency facilities in Lagos as part of an airport city project.
Workers warned that if the two-day warning strike failed, an indefinite strike would follow in a memo signed by the five union leaders.
However, in an interview with newsmen, the Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN, Comrade Frances Akinjole said: “As I am talking to you, nothing has changed. If you don’t hear anything from the General Secretary, the strike continues.
“The strike goes as planned.”
Many travellers are being stranded due to the strike that has subsequently started at all Nigerian airports. As the unions blocked access to the domestic terminal one and the MMA2, many travelers were seen making their way to the airport on foot.
The security personnel on the ground, including police and military personnel, are singing songs of unity.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) has in the meanwhile asked travelers and stakeholders to create backup plans in case of emergencies in order to keep their commitments.
A statement issued on Monday in Abuja contained this information.