Aviation workers plan strike over minimum wage, others

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Aviation workers’ unions have threatened to withdraw their services over the refusal of the Federal Government to release the reviewed condition of service negotiated over seven years ago.
Other grievances include the non-implementation of the National Minimum Wage consequential adjustments and arrears for workers of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency since 2019.
The union also rejected the planned demolition of aviation agency buildings in Lagos to pave the way for an airport city project initiated by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
In a notice of a two-day warning strike signed by the secretaries general of five aviation unions – National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees – it was stated that if the warning strike, scheduled to commence on April 17 failed, an indefinite strike would be embarked upon.
The unions had on February 7, 2023 issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on the same issued.
In the latest strike notice, the unions said they had directed their members to comply with the directive, adding that all state councils, branches, and executives had been mandated to enforce the directive.
Copies of the notice of the warning strike have been sent to the Airport Command of the Nigerian Police Force, Airport Commandants of the Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services, chief executive officers of aviation agencies, and foreign airlines.
The situation may disrupt aviation services in Nigeria if the industrial action sails through.