Aviation Minister Moves to End Industrial Dispute, Assures Harmony

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to address industrial challenges in the aviation sector and promote harmony among workers, unions, airlines and government agencies.

The meeting followed earlier engagements with aviation sector unions and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), which resulted in the temporary suspension of industrial action on Tuesday.

After extensive deliberations, stakeholders reached a number of resolutions.

The ministry said, “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other Heads of Aviation Agencies are to obtain schedule of payments from the airlines, spread over a reasonable timeframe, taking into cognizance, Airlines cost of operation and current economic realities.”

It added, “The Directors Finance and Accounts in all Aviation Agencies are to meet individual Airlines to agree on realistic repayment plan within one week.”

On unionisation, Keyamo recognised workers’ right to choose whether or not to belong to a union.

The ministry stated, “The Honourable Minister of Aviation recognizes the right of workers to decide not to belong or to belong to Unions.”

It said the NCAA would ensure that unions had direct access to airline workers to distribute unionisation forms and allow employees to indicate their choices themselves.

According to the statement, “Any airline that prevents this direct interface will be sanctioned by the NCAA.”

Stakeholders also agreed to reconvene after one month to review progress and assess the prevailing situation.

The ministry said, “The resolutions contained in (i-iv) above are the collective decisions of all parties.”

Keyamo, while assuring stakeholders of a safe and viable aviation sector, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to maintaining a “safe, efficient, peaceful and sustainable aviation industry.”