Unions to shut down NCAA’s operation over workers’ welfare

Activities at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would be disrupted from today by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) for failure of the management to agree to their request on workers’ welfare.

The union and other labour organisations in the aviation industry had jointly requested that the agency tinker its organogram to elevate some workers due for promotion, but there were no vacant positions they would occupy if promoted.

A fortnight ago, the unions gave the agency ultimatum to create positions in the organogram to accommodate the workers promoted over 15 months ago.

In a statement issued by the union Tuesday, NUATE said it was peeved by the inaction by the management of NCAA and therefore declared a shutdown of the agency from today.

“As you are aware, our unions issued a seven-day ultimatum to Federal Ministry of Transportation (Aviation) and NCAA over sundry issues.

This ultimatum expired on Monday 20th May 2019. At this time, the Federal Ministry of Transport (Aviation) has completely neglected the ultimatum while the NCAA has reacted with only half-hearted measures. This means that no single item on the demands list has been ameliorated.

“Having therefore exhausted all efforts and patience on the issues, we are left with no other option, our unions hereby direct all staff of NCAA nationwide to commence an indefinite industrial action with effect from 0500hrs on Wednesday 22nd May, 2019. In the above regard, the general public is hereby notified that the situation will remain so until the following issues are completely resolved.

“For the above purpose, all NCAA workers are to assemble at the entrance/gate of the various work places and take directive from branch union officers on location until directed otherwise,” the statement from NUATE said.

However, investigations revealed that not all the workers are disposed to the strike action and those who do not agree with the demand of the unions might flout the directive today.

IFEOMA OKEKE

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.