The Nigerian Aviation Sector is at risk of another strike as they have been threatened by three top unions in the sector; the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).
“Given the foregoing, we wish to notify the management of NiMET that our unions, as above named, will be unable to guarantee continued industry harmony at NiMET if after 14 days hence the minimum wage consequential adjustment for NiMET is not implemented.”
This is coming barely two weeks after the workers of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) protested over unpaid salaries.
According to reports, three unions in the sector threatened to ground operations at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) over wages if the implementation of the minimum wage is not executed within 14 days which will elapse next week Thursday.
Why The Threat
The Union accused NIMET’s management of being wicked over its failure to implement the minimum wage consequential adjustment. This is despite its implementation in other five aviation agencies since February 2022.
The letter was jointly signed by Comrade Ocheme Aba, General Secretary, of NUATE, Comrade Sikiru Waheed, General Secretary, of AUPCTRE, and Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu, the General Secretary of ANAP and was addressed to the Director-General of NiMET.
They also insisted that the staff of the agency was denied their benefits, adding that the management had been lukewarm with the welfare of its workers over the years.
In the letter signed by the unions, it reads;
As such, it is too much to expect the hapless staff of NiMET to continue to bear the brunt of this act of wickedness. And no excuse can be tenable at this point; nothing can justify this kind of mistreatment. As trade unions, it will be irresponsible on our part to sit idly while our members in NiMET wallow in their misery, occasioned by the continued denial of their right to enjoy the benefit of a valid law – the Minimum Wage Act.”
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