Aviation Workers Suspend Planned Strike Action, Signs Agreement With FG

By Adaku Walter

Aviation workers have called off their planned industrial action following an agreement reached with the Federal Government and its assurance to implement the minimum wage/consequential adjustment and approve the reviewed Conditions of Service (CoS)

The aviation workers, under the auspices of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) had expressed their displeasure over FG’s failure to release negotiated CoS of the aviation agencies since 2013 and non-implementation of Minimum Wage/Consequential Adjustment since 2019.

This made the unions issue a seven-day ultimatum to the government to resolve the issue or it will ground flight operations in the country by withdrawing its services nationwide yesterday, February 8.

The Minster of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in a bid to avert the impending strike capable of crippling air travel nationwide, hosted a meeting with the aggrieved unions to resolve the issue, which also had in attendance, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and other relevant government officials on Monday, February 7.

Ngige, who thanked the aviation workers for the way the unions handled the matter, said that they acted in the spirit of labour reconciliation.

“I am happy that the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation reported that they did so with you, but there are two major areas that they couldn’t reach agreement with you and therefore, you had to escalate the matter by issuing an ultimatum to close the entire air space.

“I can see that all of you are here, both the air traffic controllers and engineers. We thought there might be some openings in the air space, but I can see that all of you are united. I can assure you that we are going to reach agreements here and some of the agreements will be reached with the speed of a flash and we will get back to them”.

At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that by March 31, the Ministry of Aviation must ensure the approval, release and implementation of the reviewed CoS for all the workers in the agencies under the aviation ministry.

After the agreement was signed, the seven days ultimatum issued for a planned industrial action was suspended.

Read More: Senator Lau Replaces Bwacha as Deputy Minority Leader, Sekibo Kicks

In the communique after the meeting, it was agreed that on the matters of the minimum wage and consequential adjustment, the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) should issue a Service of Wide Circular informing all organisations in the public and private sectors that they are bound to implement the wage and adjustment.

While the Ministry of Aviation is to do same to all agencies under its supervision, requesting them to implement it without further delay and clarify that the payment became effective from April 18, 2019 when the minimum wage was signed into law. It also adds that those that have exited the system during the period to date would also be paid arrears.

On his part, the Minister of Aviation, said the agitation for the rights and privileges of workers was lawful and acceptable, adding that the government takes the issue of labour very seriously.

Speaking on behalf of the aviation unions, the National President of ATSSAN, Ahmadu Ilitrus, called for urgency in addressing their demands.

Ilitrus lamented that since 2019 when the Minimum Wage Bill was signed, no worker from the aviation ministry had benefitted.

He urged the government to pay everyone deserving of it, including all aviation workers that have left service.

Other union leaders who were present at the meeting and signed the agreement include, the President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Abednego Galadima; National President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Ben Nnabue; National President of the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Kabir Gusau and the National President of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service and Technical Employees (AUPCTRE), Benjamin Anthony.