April 17, (THEWILL) – Air passengers scheduled to travel within and outside the country were on Monday morning, barred from flying following the commencement of a warning strike by some aviation unions, who blocked the entrance to the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA).
The industrial action is happening after the meeting called by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) ended in a stalemate, with the unions insisting on going ahead with the strike.
The Director-General, Civil Aviation, Capt. Musa Nuhu, called the meeting to appeal to the unions to shelve their planned two-day warning strike with representatives of the unions in attendance.
The industrial action is being led by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Nigerian Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Engineers Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employers.
The unions claim that their demands, including the implementation of new minimum wage consequential adjustment with arrears for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) since 2019 and the release of the reviewed conditions of service for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria and NIMET, have not been met despite issuing an ultimatum to the Minister of Aviation and the Chief Executive Officers of the agencies.
The unions had earlier, in a notice to their members across airports in the country and aviation agencies, issued a two-day warning strike to press home their demands for workers’ entitlements.
Their demands include approval and implementation of the Condition of Service (CoS) as agreed between them and the agencies by the Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
Others are; non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet, since 2019 and the planned demolition exercise of all the agency buildings in Lagos by the Minister of Aviation for an airport city project.
Many airlines were initially hopeful that the meeting would be able to resolve the issues the unions have with the Federal Government.
But, the Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN, Comrade Frances Akinjole, in a short interview with newsmen on Sunday night after the meeting, said, “As I am talking to you, nothing has changed. If you don’t hear anything from the General Secretary, the strike continues.”
A top Airline Chief, who spoke with our correspondent said, “We are hopeful that it will be resolved later tonight, otherwise we are carrying on as if everything is going to be normal because you can’t stop your operation.”
But the strike has since commenced across all airports in Nigeria, with many passengers stranded. Many of the passengers were seen trekking to the airport as the unions blocked the exit to the domestic terminal one and the MMA2.
Speaking to THEWILL, on Monday morning, Secretary General of ANAP, Comrade Saidu, confirmed that the unions have grounded the airport, stressing that there is no sign that it will end today.
He said, “We have grounded the airport services and we will not stop until they meet our demands. The security operatives, including police and military officers, are on the ground.”
Meanwhile, the Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Chapter, has urged the intending passengers and stakeholders to make contingency plans in order to avoid missing their appointments.
The management, in a statement on Monday, in Abuja, said that any inconvenience that could be experienced was highly regretted.
“The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, wishes to inform the general public of the aviation unions’ planned two days warning strikes scheduled to start Monday, April 17, 2023.
“The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Management wishes to inform the general public that the airport will be opened for operation as usual. You may, however, wish to note that there may be disruptions in flight operations as a result of the planned strike action.
“Intending passengers and stakeholders are kindly advised and noted so as to make contingency plans in order to avoid missing their flights and appointments. Any inconvenience experienced is highly regretted,” the management said.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
