Workers of all aviation agencies in Nigeria have been directed by the leadership of their respective unions to embark on peaceful demonstrations across all airports across the country on Monday.
The Aviation agencies in Nigeria are: Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB)
In a joint statement signed by the leaders of all the five aviation unions in the country – National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and Nigerian Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), the unions directed their members to embark on the demonstrations to enforce the removal of some anti labour clauses allegedly “smuggled” into the recently passed Aviation agencies Acts.
“All Aviation workers nationwide are hereby directed to embark on peaceful rallies/Public Demonstrations at all airports in Nigeria to demand for the expunging of obnoxious Essential Services clauses from the Bills/ Acts of the Aviation agencies, NCAA, NiMet, FAAN, NAMA, NCAT and AIB on Monday September 12, 2022.
“All branches of the above named unions should make their internal arrangements to ensure full compliance with this directive,” the statement said.
The unions had at a media briefing in Lagos on Thursday, expressed their satisfactions over the insertions of certain anti-union clauses in the Aviation Acts passed by the National Assembly which catigorised aviation workers as essential personnel, who should not take part in industrial actions.
At the briefing, the union insisted that the inclusion of such clauses in the Act of aviation agencies passed by the National Assembly and before the President for assent is at variance with extant laws regarding the status of aviation@ unions and the laws of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The unions which claimed that the alleged insertions were never part or raised during the public hearing on the draft bill, had threatened that unless the persons who infused such clause into the bill are exposed and punished, aviation workers at airports nationwide will on September 12, 2022 embark on a protest to draw attention to the issue.
