NCAA Stops Planned Nationwide Strike By Aviation Security Workers

The planned strike by aviation security workers has been shelved by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

It was reported on Tuesday that the aviation security and logistics sub-sector was directed by the National Union of Air Transport Employees to proceed on an immediate strike from Wednesday, August 16, 2023, following poor wages.

The directive was in a circular sent to the Director-General of Civil Aviation, the Managing Director the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Commissioner of Police, Airports Command, the Airport Commandant, the Director the Department of State Security, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos Command.

The circular, signed by the General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Ocheme Aba, lamented that AVSEC graduates are paid a meagre sum of N30,000 monthly.

The circular partly reads, “As you are all aware, the union has done everything possible to resolve the lingering crisis of extreme impoverishment of employees of Aviation Security (AvSec) & logistics sub-sector of the aviation industry in Nigeria, but to no avail.

“The managements of all the companies in the business have all failed to secure decent contracts that can avail fair remuneration for their workers. With current salary levels as low as N30,000 a month for graduates, there is no gain saying that AvSec employment in Nigeria is nothing other than a slave labour camp, to call a spade a spade.

“This situation can no longer be allowed to continue.

“In this regard, and further to our letter of ultimatum dated 26th June 2023, all workers in all Aviation Logistics companies in Nigeria are hereby directed to totally withdraw services as from August 16, 2023, indefinitely, until our demand for fair remuneration is met.”

However, in a swift reaction to intervene the planned strike, the aviation apex regulatory body requested an extra week to look into the issue raised by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) over the poor remuneration of the concerned workers.

The secretary general of NUATE, Comrade Ocheme Aba, on Wednesday, confirmed the intervention of the NCAA.

According to Nigerian Tribune, Aba said members have been asked to stay action on the strike, which was slated to commence this afternoon.

He said the union is awaiting an official letter from the apex body on its intervention plan.