Victor Uzoho
Aviation workers have threatened to ground air travel from tomorrow, as several umbrella bodies under the aviation sector plan to protest against poor welfare and unimplemented agreements with the Federal Government.
In a statement jointly signed by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), a one week window was given to enable aviation companies to table the workers’ demand before the FG.
According to the statement, other unions partaking in the strike include the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).
Some of the issues that were highlighted by the groups are the non-implementation of Minimum Wage/Consequential Adjustment agreed on in 2019, and failure to release negotiated Conditions of Service of the Agencies since 2013.
Sustainable Economy gathered that on January 31, 2021, the unions’ ultimatums to the aviation agencies expired, and the government didn’t meet their demands, while the meeting with the Federal Ministry of Aviation at the end of January last year failed to resolve the issues.
In this circumstance, our Unions are left with no choice but to take the next obvious step. In this regard, all aviation workers are hereby directed to commence the total withdrawal of services from midnight of Tuesday, February 8, 2022, unless, and until, otherwise directed in this same manner.
With no clear assurance from the Ministry/Managements’ delegation towards meeting the aviation workers’ demands, the various unions resolved to withdraw their services to the aviation industry.
“In this circumstance, our Unions are left with no choice but to take the next obvious step. In this regard, all aviation workers are hereby directed to commence the total withdrawal of services from midnight of Tuesday, February 8, 2022, unless, and until, otherwise directed in this same manner,” the statement reads.
Further disruptions in air travel would lead to more loss of revenue in the aviation sector and the Nigerian economy at large as well as slow down the industry’s recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
If it holds, this strike will also hinder the travel plans of individuals and businesses in and out of Nigeria, thereby creating a ripple effect to other sectors that depend on the aviation industry.
According to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, the Nigerian aviation industry lost about N21 billion monthly to the impact of the coronavirus for over three months, while the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) lost 90% of its income in 2020.
Also, Nigerian airlines lost about $994 million in revenue in 2020, according to the International Airline Transport Association (IATA), and had only begun a gradual recovery in 2021.
