Aviation Unions Shelve Strike To Await May 9 Meeting Outcome

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots & Engineers (NAAPE) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees (AUPCTRE) have shelved their plans for a strike over welfare issues.
A statement jointly signed by Comrade Ocheme Aba, NUATE General Secretary, Comrade Frances Akinjole, ATSSSAN Principal Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Umoh Ofonime, Deputy Gen. Secretary and Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu, Secretary General of ANAP reads: “After the warning strike, we met via Zoom with the Honourable Minister of Aviation, the Permanent Secretary and CEO’s of aviation agencies or their representatives on 20th of April, 2023. At the meeting, we received assurances that the agencies’ buildings in Lagos will not be demolished until adequate arrangements are made for the workers therein. 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 the 9th of May, 2023. Invite has been extended to our Unions to attend the meeting.
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 9th. We can confirm, however, that the adjustment has been finally effected with this April salaries.
On the whole, we sincerely appreciate the efforts of the Hon. Minister of Aviation, the Permanent secretary, the Director of HR 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.
It is equally important to place on record the timely intervention of the Aviation Committees of the National Assembly – that of the Senate and House of Representatives led by Senator Olujimi and Hon. Nnadi respectively. We wish to express our gratitude for their patriotic calls to both the Minister and our Unions. We feel obliged to honour the call.
Therefore, based on the visible efforts of the Ministry of Aviation led by the Hon. 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.