While Nigeria battles to restart her aviation sector without having a particular date in mind because of poor level of preparedness on the part of some aviation agencies and airlines, the problem may be further compounded by aviation unions who are warming up for a showdown over salary cut.
In a statement made available by the aviation unions and signed by their secretaries, the unions threatened to embark on an intended action that would be most embarrassing to the industry and the nation should management of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) go ahead with its plan to pay incomplete salaries and entitlements of their members in the month of June.
“We have again been reliably informed that NAMA management is contemplating a payment of incomplete salaries to staff of the agency for the month of June this year. If this is true, it is our Unions’ opinion that the intended action would amount to gross embarrassment to our aviation industry, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the entire people of this great country. Our Unions therefore strongly advise against the attempt because, the consequences may be more damaging than what might have been envisaged,” the unions threatened.
The statement was signed byDeputy General Secretary, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Frances Akinjole; General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Abah Ocheme; General Secretary, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu and Comrade Acting General Secretary, AUPCTRE, Comrade Musa Ukpo.
To avoid the showdown and its embarrassing consequences on the nation, the unions, however, suggested that the issue of salaries cannot be discussed with the in-house branches without the knowledge of the national bodies.
“Going forward, we are compelled to suggest that management be properly guided on how to address issues that concern salaries of our members in the agency. While we sincerely concede to the effectiveness of management continuous rapport with our in-house branches executives in NAMA for effective management of workers’ welfare and sustenance of industrial harmony, the correct position is that it is wrong for Management to even discuss any alteration to our members salaries without a recourse to the national unions.”
Notwithstanding, the unions insisted that the workers’ salaries and entitlements must be paid in full by June 29, 2020.
“In light of the contemplated Management intention against our members’ salaries, we hereby, strongly demand that full salaries and other entitlements as due to our members be paid on or before the 29th day of June 2020. Failure of this demand to be met may attract any action we deem necessary to protect the dignity of labour of our members without further warning from our Unions.”
