Aviation Ground Handling Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) has put on hold its impending indefinite strike that was slated to begin tomorrow (Friday, November 5) following intervention by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Recall that the ground handling firms including the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (nacho aviance) Plc, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc, Precision Aviation Handling Company Limited (PAHCOL) and Swissport Handling Company, had on Monday, November 1, threatened to embark on an indefinite strike over the National assembly’s directive stoppage of the implementation of the newly approved safety handling rates by the NCAA.
The NCAA had in August approved new safety threshold handling rates for the ground handling companies, the first time in 36 years.
However, after a marathon closed-door meeting with the agency, chairman of AGHAN, Mr. Olaniyi Adigun said in an interview that the association had shelved the strike following NCAA’s intervention.
He said since AGHAN announced the strike, NCAA had held series of meetings with the organisation to find a way out of the quagmire.
“Considering the impact of the strike on the economy, especially flight disruption, the strike has been called off. We actually reached certain rates with NCAA, which will be communicated to all soon.
“We thank the national assembly, NCAA, stakeholders and every Nigerian for their contribution to this development. It was a thorough journey and the last time we amended handling rate was about 36 years ago,” he said.
He said the new rates would take effect soon, but was silent on the exact time.
He praised the NCAA for its intervention saying it was in accordance with the four cardinal points of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO): cost recovery, wider consultation, integrity and non-discrimination.
AGHAN was represented at the meeting by Adigun, his deputy, Mr. Ahmed Bashir, representatives of Batuke handling company, SAHCO and nacho aviance, while the director general of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, led the regulator’s team.
