Nigeria’s Aviation Unions Issue Strike Notice

Aviation unions in Nigeria have threatened to ground all activities in the sector if their demands are not met, issuing a notice of warning strike to aviation workers nationwide, beginning from April 17th and 18th, 2023.
The unions, 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, 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 the ultimatum issued to the Minister of Aviation and agency Chief Executives.
The unions in a statement said “should the warning strike fail to achieve the desired result, an indefinite strike shall ensue.”
Even after the expiration of the ultimatum, the unions accused the Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika of remaining adamant in carrying out his threat to demolish the headquarters of the aviation agencies in Lagos despite their entreaties towards caution.
“Unless all our demands are met immediately and the Minister’s demolition exercise is halted, all aviation workers are hereby directed to withdraw all services in the sector on 17th and 18th April 2023 as a warning strike,” stated the unions.
The unions sent copies of the notice of the warning strike, signed by the General Secretaries of the unions to the Lagos Airport Police Command, all airport commandants, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Chief Executives of the agencies, and foreign airlines.