NUATE Frowns At Labour Under-Pricing, Casualization, Readies To Tackle Turkish Airlines

The President of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Ben Konye Nnabue has expressed the union’s displeasure with “the irking severe under-pricing of labour leading to slave labour conditions, as well as under employment that have become prevalent in the industry” saying that “some of such malpractices disguise as contract employment which is nothing but veiled casualization of employment. These indecent labour practices are intolerable and will now be resisted frontally.”

In his speech to mark the 2025 global celebration of Workers Day, Nnabue further said “I have lamented year after year on the vexed issue of denial of the right to belong to trade unions to their workers by most domestic airlines.  While we note the present intervention by the Hon. Minister of Aviation who has directed the DGCA to summon the airlines for crucial talks over the matter, I am constrained to warn of serious conflagration in the event of failure to reign in the violating airlines, because to secure freedom from bondage for the suffering workers of these airlines is a task that must be done.”

He also said “the case of victimization of the staff of Turkish Airlines by the General Manager of the Airline for membership of, and holding office in, our Union contrary to the provisions of law has now reached a point beyond elastic limit. Mediation efforts by the Minister of Aviation and Minister of Labour have been rendered ineffective by the intransigence of Turkish Airlines Management. As such, the Union has no choice than to do what we have to do, especially as the case of the Airline against the Union at the National Industrial Court has been thrown out. Accordingly, the Lagos and FCT State Councils are to be battle ready for war with Turkish Airlines immediately after the May Day celebration. Donnier Aviation, Kaduna shall follow suit.

It is extremely sad that the case of outstanding payment to ex-workers of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways, still lingers. Despite, tremendous effort by the Hon. Minister of Aviation, and the firm promise by the Hon. Minister of Finance towards liquidating this dept to hapless pensioners, it is very disheartening that other public servants continue to prolong the suffering of fellow Nigerians. In the coming days we shall step engagement with Ministry of Finance officials to facilitate this payment in other to lay the ghost of Nigeria Airways to rest.

Relatedly, it should be of immense worry to every Nigerian, especially the international traveling kind, that our Country, Nigeria, continues to dilly dally on the critical question of establishing a new national carrier, considering the huge need for it. The Union will shortly commence serious engagement with aviation authorities in this regard.”

“The Federal Government continues to deduct 50% of total IGR of aviation agencies at source despite agreed review of same, and even from agencies that are unable to survive on whole generated incomes, and even as vital aspects of safety and security are being impinged upon.

Apprehension continues to steamy the airports concession programme of the federal Government on the part of workers of the Airports Authority and on account of lack of clarity around the resolution of labour issues.

All the government Agencies in aviation remain without governing boards of directors, depriving the agencies of magnifying ideas and stultifying long term planning.

Even as aviation unions have successfully concluded the reviews of conditions of service of most of the public agencies, fears remain about their timely approvals by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHSF). It is, therefore, of vital importance that the NSIWC and the OHSF recognize their important roles in positively shaping the industrial atmosphere in our industry through speedy and conscientious processing of our conditions of service.

I am gravely worried that the problem of extremely poor remunerations of workers of private aviation services providers remain unattended in spite of the huge security and safety risks involved. Let me use this medium to urge the DG of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on whose table the matter presently resides to quicken his steps towards ameliorating this issue and avoid a major crisis in the sector as the connected agitations caused by prolonged suffering of affected workers has reached boiling point,” Nnabue said, appealing to all members of NUATE to rededicate themselves to the cause of the Union, “for the union makes us strong. I also urge all workers in the aviation industry to rededicate themselves to the work they perform in their various organizations, for dedicated work brings about progress for all. In the same vein, I wish to urge all employers, public and private, to take more seriously the important task of tending to the welfare of their workers, for a labourer deserves his fair wages.”