Unions threaten to ground local, foreign flights Sept 18
……As NAMA rules out airspace closure
Two aviation labour unions and affiliates of the United Labour Congress (ULC): National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE)
and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) have notified the Federal Government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that they would ground the Nigeria’s airspace if their demands are not met before that date.
The unions gave the warning yesterday in a joint press statement on the strike action called by the United Labour Congress (ULC), stating that the unions will embark on a strike action starting from 6am on Monday being September 18, 2017.
In the letter addressed to the Director General NCAA, Capt. Murtah Usman, the unions lamented that government workers at all levels are owed months and years of salaries, pensions and various allowances stating that such situation will not continue in that manner.
The unions in the document jointly signed by the Secretary General of NAAPE, Comrade Ocheme Aba and Secretary General of ANAP, Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu decried withholding of the registration of ULC as a labour federation despite fulfilling all conditions stipulated by the law.
While complaining that the government has been neglecting the review of minimum wage, the aviation unions added “The factories in Nigeria and most other workplace have been manufacturing depots for fatalities and various unimaginable incapabilities.
Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has since abandoned their inspectorate and surveillance duties in this respect thereby abandoning Nigerian workers to their fate”
“As a result of the strike action, no flight will operate through Nigeria. We therefore advise all airport users to take note and make alternative travel arrangements.
Foreign airlines are equally advised to avoid flying into Nigeria until the matter is resolved to avoid unpleasant consequences”.
“We truly regret the difficulties this action will cause airport users, but this circumstance is foisted by the federal Government and the remedy lies solely in their hands”, the union noted.
But the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has disassociated itself from the proposed strike threat issued by the United Labour Congress (ULC) stating that the Nigeria airspace will remain open.
Following an emergency meeting between NAMA management and representatives of Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Aeronautical Information Services Association of Nigeria (AISAN) and the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE),
where the issue of the proposed strike action by the United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC) scheduled to take effect from Monday, September 18, 2017 was discussed, the above unions dissociated themselves from the said strike.
The airspace managers informed the general public that while NAAE denied membership of the United Labour Congress, AISAN and ANAP whose members are in NAMA have assured the agency of their decision not to join the strike.
The agency therefore wishes to reassure the general public of full compliments of air navigation service provision throughout the period of the intended strike if it takes place.
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