Nigerian Aviation Unions Reveal Why International Flights Are Shutdown

Aviation workers embarked on strike on Monday, 23 January 2023, after salary negotiation talks with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc failed.

The negotiation talks were between NAHCO management, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSA). 

Both the NUATE and ATSSSA have been negotiating with the management at Nigerian Aviation Handling Company since June 2022, however, they couldn’t come to terms on the review of current salaries. 

According to the Deputy General Secretary, ATSSSA, Frances Akinjole, and the General Secretary of NUATE, Ochema Aba, in a strike notice dated 16 January 2023, all ultimatums issued by their unions have gone unheeded. 

The Aviation workers said the management of NAHCO has been scheduling purposeless meetings, which is a play on the unions’ intelligence. 

Due to the strike, all international flights at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, have been ground until further notice. 

According to the unions, NAHCO has refused to harken to their request, so the strike will continue indefinitely.

“As you are all aware, our unions have been in negotiations with the management of NAHCO for the review of current salaries since June, 2022, without any headway. 

“As all ultimatum issued by our unions have gone unheeded, and the management continues to play on our intelligence through scheduling of purposeless meetings, we have come to the conclusion that the management is clearly decided against harkening to our cries for fairness and equity, despite overwhelming evidence in support of our demand. 

“In view of the above, NUATE and ATSSSAN have no choice than to take definite steps to press home our demands. 

“In the above regard, all workers of NAHCO are hereby directed to withdraw all services with effect from Monday. This action shall be indefinite until otherwise directed by the secretariats of the unions,” the statement reported by the Punch revealed.