Aviation Unions comply with Labour directive, announce indefinite strike
By Innocent Raphael
Nigeria’s aviation unions have complied with the directives of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), announcing indefinite strike action.
The unions involved include the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
They instructed their members to cease operations at all airports nationwide.
This decision was communicated through a joint statement released after an emergency meeting in Abuja on Sunday midnight.
The announcement follows the mobilisation efforts of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to ensure the strike’s success.
The aviation unions’ statement was signed by the General Secretary of NUATE, Ocheme Aba; Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN, Frances Akinjole; Secretary-General of ANAP, Abdul Rasaq Saidu; and General Secretary of NAAPE, Olayinka Abioye. They specified that services would be withdrawn from midnight on Monday, in alignment with the NLC and TUC’s directive.
“In compliance with the directive from our labour organisations—Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria—we hereby inform the general public, aviation service providers, airline operators, aviation businesses, and all aviation workers nationwide that starting from 0000hrs of 3 June 2024, all services at all Nigerian airports shall be fully withdrawn until further notice,” the statement read.
Acknowledging the complexities of international travel, the unions indicated that the strike at international terminals would commence on June 4. They called on all aviation workers to fully comply with the strike, assuring that branch officers would oversee complete adherence across all airports.
The NLC and TUC announced the indefinite nationwide industrial action on Friday, citing the federal government’s failure to finalize and enact a new National Minimum Wage Act and its refusal to reverse the electricity tariff hike from N225/kWh to N65/kWh.
During a joint press conference in Abuja, following a failed negotiation meeting with the federal government, NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo expressed frustration over the lack of progress.
They criticized the absence of senior government officials and ministers, noting that only the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, was present, highlighting the government’s
