Aviation: Why Foreign, Domestic Flights May Be Shut Down From Monday

Local and international flights may be shut down from Monday, April 17 as the aviation industry insists that there is no going back on the two-day warning strike announced earlier.

The industrial action was disclosed on Thursday, with Monday and Tuesday set aside for the strike to press home the demand for improved wages for workers in the sector.

The development comes following the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued previously to the federal government through the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

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

Among other things, they are kicking against the planned demolition of aviation agencies’ headquarters in Lagos.

The minister and the unions clashed over the former's plan to demolish the Lagos offices of aviation agencies to build an Aerotropolis (Airport City).

Sirika stated that the planned demolition would take place while the union said there are no good offices in Abuja for thousands of aviation agencies’ staff currently in Lagos.

The unions are also protesting the non-implementation of minimum wage and other welfare demands in the aviation agencies including the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

Speaking in a joint statement by the unions signed by Comrade Ocheme Aba (General Secretary of NUATE), Comrade Frances Akinjole (ATSSSAN), Comrade Abdulrazaq Saidu (ANAP) and Comrade Unoh Ofonime (NAAPE), they noted: “The ultimatum has since expired and nothing tangible has been yielded from our efforts and that of the Ministry of Aviation.”

While all the airlines have been notified of the strike, it has not been ascertained whether or not Airmen (NOTAM) have been informed.

NOTAM is the official communication issued by NAMA to inform the airlines of possible flight disruptions as the strike, according to the unions, is going to be total.

Speaking on the industrial action, an airline official who chatted with Daily Trust shared: “We don’t know what is going to happen but we know shutting down for two days is not going to be funny. No NOTAM yet.”