THE unions in Nigeria’s aviation sector have agreed to shelve further actions in continuation of their struggle to force the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to meet their demands.
This is contained in a joint statement issued by the unions – the National Union of Air Transpirt Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees.
The unions attributed their decision to shift grounds on the efforts so far made by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to resolve the issues confronting them.
Among the grounds of disagreement of the unions are the non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustment with arrears for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) since 2001, refusal of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) to release the reviewed Conditions of Service (CoS) of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) as negotiated between the unions and the agencies, and as duly conveyed by the Federal Ministry of Aviation since upwards of nine years.
The unions also cited the Minister of Aviation’s threat to demolish the headquarters of FAAN, NAMA and NCAA in Lagos without alternative work environments for workers therein.
While attributing the lingering crisis to the two-day warning strike recently embarked upon by the unions, they explained how the minister, after the meeting he held with them, gave them the assurance that the agencies’ buildings in Lagos will no longer be demolished until adequate arrangements are made for the worker.
According to the unions, “Also, based on earlier meeting with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, there is assurance that the processes of approval of all the outstanding Conditions of Service will be concluded at a meeting on May 9, 2023. Invitation has been extended to our unions to attend the meeting.
“Therefore, based on the visible efforts of the Ministry of Aviation led by the Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika, the intervention of the National Assembly Committees of Aviation, the strident calls of many other respected Nigerians, as well as considering the overall interest of the aviation industry in Nigeria, our unions have taken the decision to shelve further actions on the stated matters and await the outcome of the meeting slated for May 9, 2023 among the Wages Commission, the Budget Office, the Ministry of Aviation/agencies and our unions.
“Similarly, we are hopeful that arrangement will be firmed up for the liquidation of the arrears accruing from the implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustment for NiMet at the meeting of May 9. We can confirm, however, that the adjustment has been finally effected with this April salaries.”
The unions however, appreciated the efforts of the minister, the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Human Resources in the Ministry, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other CEOs of aviation agencies for their efforts towards resolving the dispute.
