April 19, (THEWILL)- The foremost aviation union, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), has pleaded with the Federal Government to expedite actions on the payment of the outstanding ₦34Billion exit benefits of the ex-Nigeria Airways staff.
This is just as the union also expressed its appreciation to the Federal Government for the payment of part of the exit benefits of the ex-staff of the defunct national carrier.
According to ATSSSAN, the payment has become urgent as some of the ex-workers are dying due to lack of finances to take care of their health needs.
They made the plea in a communique issued at the end of National Executive Council (NEC) meeting with the theme: “Challenges of Labour Unions in a Depressing Economy: Nigeria Aviation Sector in View” held 21st to 23rd February, 2024 at the University Ibadan, Oyo State Capital
The aviation union also called on all employers in the private sector in the aviation industry to respect collective bargaining agreements in order to avert industrial crises at the workplace.
ATSSSAN stated that they are seriously disturbed by the continuous willful act by some private airlines towards frustrating the unionisation of their employees contrary to the letters and spirit of section 40 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and relevant international Conventions and Laws.
To nip such situation in the bud, the union called on the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to ensure compliance by all employers in the aviation sector with the rights of workers to belong to unions of their choice.
The Union equally called on the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development to urgently convoke a stakeholders’ meeting of the defaulting airlines and our unions, with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in attendance.
The NEC meeting was attended by all the seventeen (17) affiliates of ATSSSAN with the full complement of their respective branch chairmen, secretaries, and the National Officers commencing with the National Administrative Committee (NAC) meeting on February 21, to the NEC meeting of February 22/23 and the public symposium of February 23, which marked the end of the program.
Realizing the enormous constraints into which the compulsory deduction from the Internally Generated Revenues (IGR), of the aviation agencies has put the performance of the statutory agencies, ATSSSAN unequivocally called for the exemption of the aviation agencies from the deduction of 50% of their IGR under the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
The union argued that, since the agencies were not established for profit making, stifling them of the required funds will jeopardise the effective performance of their safety and security mandates and endanger the provision of critical services that may endanger the safety and security of civil aviation in Nigeria.
The union therefore, warned that if the federal government insists on the deduction, thereby compounding the current financial state of the agencies, they may be forced to direct all aviation workers to down tools until the government reverses itself.
“Our Union noted that the recently released conditions of service of the aviation agencies are out of tune with current economic and allied realities having been held by relevant agencies for over seven years since submission.
“The NEC noted the pledge made by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development to take measures for ameliorating the hardship faced by aviation workers but regretted that nothing has come out of the minister’s promise.
“The supervising Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development is hereby reminded of the need to direct the various agencies to set up committees for the immediate review of the various conditions of service (CoS), to prevent imminent industrial action in the industry as aviation workers are ready to take their destinies in their hands”, ATSSSAN added.
The Union equally commended the Federal Government for reversing itself from the relocation of the Headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to Abuja.
To ensure a sustainable and seamless relocation in the future, ATSSSAN advised that the federal government should as a matter of urgency ensure the provision of necessary infrastructure (including offices and befitting staff accommodation for FAAN in the Federal Capital Territory).
Recognising that the issues over airport concession are a little settled for now, the union stated that their major interest remains a concrete resolution of every contending labour issue if airport concession remains a government policy.
“Among these labour issues is the problem of ongoing pension computations of FAAN staff which has become almost intractable for FAAN Management.
“It is also necessary to remind ourselves that the actuarial valuation for FAAN staff as of 2021 was around ₦154 Billion.
“NEC wishes to reiterate that only a transparent concession process that accommodates the contributions of FAAN Management in the exercise and above all, the resolution of all labour issues will be acceptable to entire FAAN workers.
“While the ex-SAHCOL staff redundancy beneficiaries and our Unions appreciate the payment of the renegotiated redundancy benefits, the federal government agencies, viz: the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) in charge of the payment are reminded of the outstanding 35% of beneficiaries that are yet to be settled due to their omission from the last verification exercise (some of who reside abroad) or for other reasons.
“Since we were assured that there was going to be a mop-up verification exercise, we remain at a loss as to why no action has been taken by the outstanding balance. The NEC therefore calls on the government to kindly end this frustration”, the body emphasised
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
