Aviation workers and agencies at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport have begun a two-day warning strike to protest against the federal government’s failure to implement their negotiated conditions of service.
This is coming a few hours after the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) suspended its own threat to halt flights over the rising cost of JetA1 fuel.
The aggrieved workers carried placards Monday morning with different inscriptions like, "No Minimum Wage, No Weather Information”, “Pay Us Our Promotion Arrears”, and “Federal Government Failed Us Again.”
The representative of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) in Kano, Comrade Benjamin Akugbo said the union has already shut down the Nigeria Airspace Agency NAMA (NAMA), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and Nigeria Metrological Authority (NIMET).
“Today, tomorrow, the offices rendering aviation services would be shut down. NIMET, the Nigeria Metrological Authority, those who are in charge of forecasting, observation, and weather generally, with the briefing room, are now shut down.
“NCAA, the regulator of the aviation industry is shut down. NAMA partially shut down, at least 70% shutdown,” he said.
Comrade Akugbo disclosed that the aviation workers had been discussing the implementation of the agreed increase in their minimum with the government since 2019.
“The government wants to shortchange us that the aviation industry is not part of minimum wage. This is what we have been fighting for.
“Very fortunately, this last February, we wanted to go on this same strike… The Minister of Labour called all the unions and the Minister of Labour said we are all entitled to this minimum wage,” he continued.
“At the end of it all, they came out with 10%, and everybody is aware that there are two templates that the federal government and labour came out with – 65 and 22%. Unfortunately, they’re now giving 10% across the board. Yet, as we’re talking, it’s only in FAAN they implemented that.”
He also said the condition of service is another issue the aviation workers are fighting for.
“How on earth do you think that where you are working, for 14 years your condition of service didn’t change?” he questioned.
He threatened that the workers would embark on an indefinite strike if the government failed to meet their demands after the expiration of the warning strike.
