Airline operators and thousands of air passengers and users airports across the country and Lagos in particular, suffered avoidable financial losses and untold hardships on Monday when aviation unions embarked on a two-day warning strike at all airports across the country to press home their demands.
While airlines were not allowed to operate their flights, passengers who had left their homes for the airports were made to trek about six kilometers with their luggage on their heads.
Some Airport users who have their offices and businesses within airports couldn’t get to their offices on time because of the resultant traffic gridlock that happened as a result of blocking entrances to the airports.
In Lagos, the traffic gridlock affected traffic flow to far away Maryland Area, Iyana Ipaja and Isolo axis of the metropolis.
The strike according to a labour source started at exactly 00.00 hours at the headquarters of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) after the expiration of the ultimatum given by the unions with the blockade of the entrance to the building by the unions members.
The unions had last week informed the Federal government and other stakeholders in the aviation industry of their intentions to embark on a two day warning strike if their demands were not met by the night of Sunday April 16, 2023.
The warning strike led by the leadership of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Nigerian Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Engineers Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employers (AUPCTRE) across all Airports in Nigeria is expected to continue on Tuesday April 18, 2023.
The unions’ demands, include the implementation of new minimum wage consequential adjustment with arrears for the workers of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) since 2019 and the release of the reviewed Conditions of Service (CoS) for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria and NIMET, the unions claimed have not been met despite issuing an ultimatum to the Minister of Aviation and the Chief Executive Officers the agencies.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Aviation in a press statement signed by its
Head, Press and Public Affairs, Odutayo Oluseyi, has appealed to the unions engaging in the two day warning strike to sheath their swords, call off the strike and come to roundtable discuss with its management.
Expressing her displeasure at the ongoing strike, the Ministry said the strike is unnecessary as it will increase the hardship on the citizens, affect flight schedules, lead to economic losses and negatively impact on the nation’s rating globally.
The Ministry said the grievances prompting the strike could have been resolved without embarking on strike if the unions had engaged the Ministry in dialogue.
On the demands of the unions, the Ministry said, “It should be noted that the planned demolition of certain buildings obstructing the runway is in public interest and an administrative issue that can be sorted in-house. The Unions should have met with management of agencies for alternative accommodation to all affected offices before going ahead with the strike.
“On the Concession of airports, the Unions are aware of global practices and for the aviation industry in Nigeria to be the hub in Africa, the concession is the way to go to improve infrastructure and make our airports economically viable as this is without loss of jobs.
“On Conditions of Service in some of the Agencies, it is work in progress. The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission is already carrying out assessments and will soon conclude.”
The Ministry implored the unions to note that consequential adjustment of the minimum wage has been finalised and about to be paid anytime soon.
“We have always conveyed this information in the several conversations and meetings held with the Unions,” it affirmed.
The statement however warned the unions that it would not tolerate any behaviour that may likely to lead to a breakdown of law and order at our airports.
“Let me reiterate that while we are appealing to the Unions to sheath the sword, the Management will view seriously any behaviour by any Union that is likely to lead to a breakdown of law and order at our airports,” the statement warned.
