Aviation Strike: FAAN advised passengers on flight disruptions

The management of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) chapter of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has asked stakeholders and those arriving to establish contingency arrangements to avoid missing their appointments.

The management apologized for any trouble that might have been caused in a statement released on Monday in Abuja.

“The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, wishes to inform the general public of the aviation union’s planned two-day warning strikes scheduled to start Monday, April 17, 2023,” said FAAN.

The statement added, “The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport management wishes to inform the general public that the airport will be opened for operation as usual. You may, however, wish to note that there may be disruptions in flight operations as a result of the planned strike action.”

FAAN stated that “any inconvenience experienced is highly regretted” and advised travelers and stakeholders to “make contingency plans” to prevent missing appointments.

The unions said there was no going back on the showdown of aviation activities in the country on Monday and Tuesday.

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), the Engineers Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employers, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Nigerian Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) are leading the strike.

The unions asserted that despite giving the aviation minister an ultimatum, their demands—which included the release of the reviewed conditions of service for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, and NIMET—have not been met. They included the implementation of new minimum wage consequential adjustment with arrears for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) since 2019 and NIMET.

The unions announced a two-day warning strike to their members at airports and aviation organizations to emphasize their demands for employees’ entitlements.

They ask for the Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to approve and implement the conditions of service that were agreed upon between them and the agencies.