The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has urged aviation workers to embrace dialogue in resolving issues rather than embarking on protests and strikes.
The minister noted that the aviation sector and the country incur huge losses whenever the airports are shut down due to protests and strikes.
He spoke in Abuja yesterday at the 11th Edition of Aviation Workers Week with the theme: “The roles of aviation Trade Unions in galvanizing workers’ support for the attainment of ministerial mandate”.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Dr Ibrahim Kana, the minister said: “I don’t see the union as an antagonist to progress but as the protagonist to any progress in Nigeria, and I have always supported their activities.
“The role of union should not hinder progress, but people always assume that unionism is synonymous with strikes and protests, and I do not think it is true. I don’t encourage protest and strike; I believe in dialogue.
“I assure you that our doors are wide open if you have any challenges. There is simply no reason for anybody to go on strike. Anytime people go on strike, the loss is on all of us. For the aviation sector, for each hour a plane does not fly, there is a huge loss.
“You need to look at the economics of aviation; for every hour that we shut down our airspace, the ripple effect on those who have shops at the airports, the taxi drivers, and other businesses is huge. The airlines also lose even though it is assumed they are wealthy, but they are not; they operate on insurance. So, for each day they don’t carry passengers, they incur losses. Therefore, strikes and protests are not something that we encourage, whatever you want within the ambit of the law, be rest assured that it is yours.”
The Chairman of the Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council (JCNC), Hector Nnadi acknowledged the tireless efforts of aviation workers in ensuring the safety, security, and efficiency of the aviation industry.
He noted that some of the workers are staff of defunct Nigerian Airways who are still owed their full entitlement.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and clear the payment.
Nnadi said: “Among these great veterans we are acknowledging are the workers in the defunct Nigeria Airways, who gave their patriotic service to this nation but are still struggling to get their full entitlement after 30 years of liquidation. We are sending an SOS to Mr President for his further intervention to conclude this over the years challenge and become aviation workers’ hero, and this is without prejudice to several efforts of the Minister of Aviation.”
