Travelers across Nigeria can now heave a sigh of relief as the impending strike by aviation union workers has been suspended.
The suspension of the strike comes after a meeting between the unions and the Ministries of Aviation and Labour.
A communique signed by five union leaders as well as the two ministers says the strike is now “suspended.”
“The meeting agreed that by the end of first quarter of 2022 (31st March 2022), the Aviation Ministry should ensure the approval, release and implementation of the reviewed CoS (Condition of Service) for all the workers in the agencies under the Aviation Ministry,” the communique read.
“In view of the above, the seven days ultimatum issued for a planned industrial action effective 8/02/22 is hereby suspended.”
Present at the meeting were Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Minister of Aviation, Chris Ngige as well as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Yerima Tarfa and his counterpart from the Ministry of Aviation, Abel Enitan.
If you had travel plans today, go ahead.
— Ufuoma Egbamuno (@Foskolo) February 8, 2022
Aviation unions have suspended strike. pic.twitter.com/3bxaHt5OdF
On the part of the unions, those present were the National President, Air Transport and Association of Nigeria Aviation, Kabir Gusau; National
President, Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association, Ahmadu Idris; and National President, National Union of Air Transport Employees, Ben Nnabue.
Others are National President, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Benjamin Anthony; and National President, The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Galadima Abednego.
Earlier, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers Public Relations Officer, Comrade Francis Igwe, expressed his displeasure over the conditions of service of its members in a chat with Nigeria Info’s Ijeoma Esek.
‘’A lot of staff have been dying even those that retire are living with very little thing. Enough is enough!’’ he said.
Last week, the aggrieved workers had issued a strike notice indicating that they would down tools on February 8th over the non-implementation of minimum wage and release of Conditions of Service.
In a statement last week, General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Ocheme Aba noted that the union had ‘’no choice than to take the next obvious step.’’
“By this notice, all airlines, ground handling, aviation security/logistics, inflight catering and other aviation-related businesses as well as the travelling and general public are hereby notified that aviation services will be unavailable as from the given time until the issues are fully resolved,” the statement read.
Additional report by Precious Nnenna Okon
