Aviation strike looms as pilots, engineers join NLC protest

Aviation employees, including pilots and engineers, have issued a notification regarding an indefinite nationwide strike set to commence on Tuesday, October 2, 2023. This decision aligns with the ongoing strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The strike is a response to the immense suffering, impoverishment, and hunger in the country due to the surge in petrol prices.

According to a report by Daily Trust, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), all integral unions in the aviation sector, have jointly confirmed their intention to participate in the strike. This move will significantly disrupt flight operations nationwide.

In a collective statement issued by the unions, signed by Comrade Frances Akinjole, Principal Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN; Comrade Umoh Ofonime, Deputy General Secretary of NAAPE; and Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu, Secretary General of ANAP, they emphasized their affiliation with the two Labor Centres, asserting their obligation to mobilize effectively for the strike.

The statement directed all branches of the mentioned unions to unite within the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of their respective organizations, alongside the state councils of the NLC and TUC, to participate in the nationwide strike from zero hour on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. The notice explicitly urged all aviation workers to adhere to the strike for its optimal success and urged employers and security agencies within the aviation industry to take due notice and comply accordingly.