Nigeria’s aviation industry may shut down as workers have proposed industrial action from Monday, 17th to 18th of April 2023.
The proposed two-day warning strike action would likely cripple the sector as flight delays and cancellations, among other disruptions, are imminent.
The workers are aggrieved over the more than seven years of delays in reviewing their Condition of Service (CoS) as negotiated between them and four aviation agencies.
The workers added that they had issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Minister of Aviation on February 7, 2023, on the same matter but were not given due credence by the government.
The two-day warning strike notice was disclosed on Thursday to workers of all aviation agencies and signed by the secretaries-general of the five unions to press home further their demand.
The unions include the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers.
The workers queried the non-implementation of minimum wage significant adjustments in agencies under the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Speaking with Charmingpro an exclusive interview on Friday, an aviation expert, Group Captain(Rtd) John Ojikutu, said Nigeria’s government is giving workers too much latitude.
He said workers have no justifiable reason to cripple or attempt to halt the activities of the aviation sector in Nigeria.
“For me, the federal government gives the workers too much latitude. How many of them are skilled to do the job? What I don’t like is for them to be interfering with the sector. Anytime the problem happens, I blame the NCAA; they should put a limit. There must be regulations for the workers. Something is wrong with everybody in the industry.
“Just because a new government all of a sudden a new government is coming, where would the government find the money?” he asked