Aviation Unions To Embark On Two-Day Warning Strike Over Planed Merger

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), on Sunday said they would be going on a two-day national warning strike over the recent merger plan by the Federal Government of some agencies in the industry.

Speaking in Lagos, Benjamin Okewu, the National President of ATSSSAN said the unions were currently meeting to take their stands, confirming that the National Executive Council meeting of the unions would be scheduled for sometime in May.

"ATSSSAN has concluded plans to get the endorsement of the strike from all its organs as its National Administrative Council Meeting and the National Executive Council meeting are scheduled for May" Okewu said.

"We have put our members on red alert, in preparation for the two-day warning strike aimed at paralysing the country’s aviation sector".

The president said that the unions vowed to close down airports across the country as the warning strike would be the first of its kind in the country, adding that they have written to the National Assembly, the Presidency and the National Security Adviser over the planned strike.

Okewu further disclosed that the unions have also given reasons why government should not go ahead with its plan on the merger.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had planned to merge the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).