Strike: Aviation unions order members to withdraw services

In compliance with the unions’ directive to go on an indefinite strike, aviation unions in Nigeria have ordered their members to suspend services at all airports in the country.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the unions following an emergency meeting held in Abuja on Sunday.

The unions are the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Aviation Professionals of Nigeria (ANAP) and National Association of Pilots and Aircraft Engineers (NAAPE).

The directive comes as all members of both the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and the Nigerian Trade Union Congress (TUC) began mobilizing to ensure that the strike was a success.

In the joint statement signed by the Secretary General of NUATE, Ocheme Aba; the Deputy Secretary General of the ATSSSAN, Frances Akinjole; the general secretary of ANAP, Abdul Rasaq Saidu; and NAAPE Secretary General Olayinka Abioye, the aviation unions said the withdrawal of services will take effect from midnight on Monday, as announced by the NLC and the TUC.

“In accordance with the directive of our labor organizations (Nigerian Labor Congress and Nigerian Trade Union Congress), we hereby inform the general public, aviation service providers, airline operators, airline companies, aviation and all aviation workers across the country that effective 00:00 on June 3 “From 2024, all services at all Nigerian airports will be completely suspended until further notice,” said the unions.

The international terminal will be closed on Tuesday

Unions acknowledged the complexities of international travel and said the strike at international terminals would begin on June 4.

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They urged all aviation workers to recognize the importance of the strike and comply fully with it, assuring that branch officials would ensure full compliance at all airports.

The NLC and TUC announced on Friday their decision to embark on an indefinite national strike on Monday over the federal government’s failure to finalize and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act, and its refusal to reverse the electricity tariff increase. from 225 N/kWh to 65 N/kWh.

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At a joint press conference held in Abuja, shortly after emerging from the negotiation meeting with the federal government for a new minimum wage, the presidents of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, and the TUC, Festus Osifo, said that the meeting on Friday with government representatives further demonstrated the lack of seriousness and contempt with which the Nigerian State meets the demands of the Nigerian workers and people.

They lamented the situation where no “big personality” from the federal government side with the appropriate authority to commit to any outcome was present, saying it was indicative that the government had abandoned the meeting.

The union leaders specifically noted that no governor was present at the meeting, just as ministers were absent, except the Minister of State for Labor and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who also acts as conciliator.