The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) have perfected plans to shut down the Nigerian airspace should the ministry of finance fail to release N45 billion approved for payment of final severance benefits to about 6,000 workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways.
In a petition dated March 19, 2018 and signed by Messrs Ocheme Aba for NAAPE, Frances Akinjole, ATSSSAN and Olayinka Abioye for NUATE and addressed to the minister of state for aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the unions said they were peeved by the insensitivity of the ministry of finance to pay the workers since the federal executive council approved the money about 10 months ago.
The unions which threatened to embark on strike within two weeks of notice said they would not wait until the entire workers of the former national carrier died before taking step to ensure they were paid their benefits.
The workers had earlier accused the minister of finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, for deliberately delaying the payment.
The petition reads in part: “It is disheartening that the honourable minister of finance has unconsciously and negatively prioritised the president’s directive on this matter. She has equally in a most uncaring manner, refused to heed all entreaties by the hapless ex-workers.
“Not even the cries of the growing list of the avoidable deaths and other afflictions created by their excruciating conditions of existence had pinched the minister. Our previous letters to the minister has failed to move her just as earlier letter from the NLC on the matter.
“As we can no longer wait for all the ex-staff of the Nigeria Airways to die before entitlements are paid, we are therefore, compelled to force Adeosun to come to terms with the reality of the situation and be rid of her gross insensitivity.
“In view of the above, we are sad to inform you that all workers in the aviation sector will commence an indefinite industrial action in 14 days should the ex-Nigeria Airways workers fail to receive their entitlements as graciously approved. We have also commenced the mobilisation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) towards assuring wider support for this objective.”
