Unions in the Nigerian aviation industry have opted out of the two-day warning strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the removal of subsidy on fuel.
This is as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed its member of staff to resume work as usual, saying that failure to comply with the directive would be taken as sabotage against the ongoing International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Programme (USOAP).
The unions under the NLC in the sector; the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), said they won’t participate in the warning strike due to the ICAO audit, but insisted that they never attempted to sabotage NLC.
Comrade Abdulrazak Saidu, the General Secretary, of ANAP, told our correspondent on Tuesday that the warning strike may affect the chances of Nigeria’s scaling the ICAO audit.
He said that the decision of the union to opt out of the two-day warning strike was taken after a review of the internal situation in the industry and its consequences.
He also said that the union wanted to protect Nigeria from being sanctioned by the global aviation body.
He said:
Also, the Air Transport Staff Senior Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), said it would not be a part of the warning strike, saying its parent body, Trade Union Congress (TUC) was not ready for a strike.
Comrade Frances Akinjole, General Secretary, ATSSSAN, told our correspondent that the leadership of the congress posited that negotiations with the government had not broken down irretrievably.
He said that its members were encouraged to use their best endeavours to avoid every situation that could lead to friction among workers at workplaces.
He added:
Besides, a circular to all staff, signed by the Director, Human Resources and Admin, NCAA, dated September 4, 2023, with the reference number: NCAA/DHR&A/03/1549/1/163 and obtained by TheWitness, directed all members of staff of the agency to report to their duty post.
The circular warned that failure to comply would be taken as sabotage to the ongoing ICAO safety audit of the industry.
The circular reiterated that the importance of the ongoing audit in the aviation industry should not be over-emphasized.
