Activities at the headquarters of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) was on Wednesday crippled by strike action organized by that shut down the agency’s premises.
The aviation unions embarked on strike at the expiration of the ultimatum given to the management of NCAA directing it to tinker with the existing organogramme to create positions for personnel who are due for promotion but no position for them to occupy.
The unions, National Union of Air a Transport Employee (NUATE), Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigerian Aviation professionals (ANAP) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and engineers (NAAPE) had issued a no stay of action late last night.
Labour had called on the Ministry of Transport (Aviation) to review the recently approved organogram of the agency that collapsed some departments and directorates among other demands.
The Unions are also seeking approval of the new Condition of Service (COS) and inauguration of Boards for the Authority
As early as 6:30 am Wednesday morning, the union’s had already laid siege to the headquarters of the NCAA chanting solidarity songs and barring vehicular and passenger movement, claiming that the Federal Ministry of Transportation (Aviation) was feigning ignorance of their demands and neglecting the ultimatum.
Meanwhile, in a statement signed by GM Public Relations NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, the Minister of State (Aviation), Senator Hadi Sirika has invited the Aviation Unions to a meeting today to address all issues raised by the workers.
Aviation Unions are presently on strike thereby disrupting services at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s offices however, the statement expressed that the issues in contention are however not within the jurisdiction of NCAA management.
“Therefore, the Regulatory Authority will work with the supervising ministry to ensure that all issues are properly addressed to the satisfaction of all parties.
“The Authority has absolute confidence that the meeting between the Honourable Minister and the Unions will provide amicable resolution.
“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hereby appeal to all aviation stakeholders who are not able to access services at our offices today to remain calm as normalcy will soon be restored, ” the statement concluded.
However, some industry observers have said that labour should have concentrated on the demand for the welfare of its members and not insist that the status quo should remain in the merger of some directorates, noting that before few years ago during the Jonathan administration, the new directorates did not exist.
They also said that insisting on NCAA having a board was outrageous because whether the agency has board or not, its obligation is to meet the welfare of the workers and that is what the unions must insist on.
