By Tekena Amieyeofori
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stepped in to de-escalate tensions in the aviation sector following recent disruptions to flight operations at some airports.
Keyamo convened an emergency meeting on Thursday with aviation unions, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, and chief executives of aviation agencies to resolve the dispute that triggered the face-off between domestic carriers and labour groups.
The outcome of the meeting was contained in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mahmud Kambari.
Under the new accord, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, and other aviation agencies will collect repayment schedules from airlines owing them. The debts are to be settled over a staggered period that considers airline operating costs and current economic realities.
Following deliberations at the meeting, Directors of Finance and Accounts across aviation agencies were mandated to engage individual airlines within seven days to finalise workable repayment arrangements.
Labour rights also featured prominently on the agenda of the meeting. It reaffirmed the right of aviation workers to decide freely on union membership.
To that effect, the minister instructed the NCAA to grant aviation unions direct access to airline staff for the distribution of membership forms.
“The minister directed the NCAA to ensure that aviation unions have direct access to workers across all airlines for the purpose of distributing union membership forms, allowing employees to freely indicate whether they wish to unionise.”
The statement added that carriers obstructing union access would face sanctions from the NCAA.
“The statement warned that any airline that prevents the unions from having direct access to workers would be sanctioned by the NCAA.”
All parties further agreed to reconvene in one month to review implementation of the resolutions and evaluate industrial relations in the sector.
“The stakeholders also agreed to reconvene after one month to assess progress on the implementation of the resolutions and review the state of industrial relations within the sector.”
Keyamo, in his remarks, assured stakeholders of government’s commitment to a safe and sustainable aviation industry, and restated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolve to maintain efficiency and peace in the sector.
“The minister, while assuring stakeholders of the Federal Government’s commitment to a safe and viable aviation industry, reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to maintaining a safe, efficient, peaceful and sustainable aviation sector.”