Aviation unions vow to shut down airspace

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 were not met before Monday, September 18, 2017.

In a letter jointly addressed to the Director General (NCAA), Capt. Murktar Usman, the unions, stated that they would embark on strike from 6.00 hrs on Monday, September 18, 2017.

The unions lamented that government workers at all levels are owed backlog of salaries, pensions and various allowances.

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.