By Chuks Okoh
Aviation unions in the country are warming up for a two day national warning strike over the recent merger plan of some agencies in the ministry by the government.
Investigations revealed that the unions, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ATSSSAN, National Union of Air Transport Employees NUATE and National Association of Aircraft Pilot and Engineers NAAPE have put their members on red alert in preparation for the two days warning strike aimed at paralyzing the country’s aviation sector.
From all indications, the unions have set in motion the process of endorsing the national strike, the first of its kind in the country as they have vowed to close down airports across the country.
To perfect their strategies, the unions have written to the National Assembly, Presidency and the National Security Adviser over the planned strike and itemizing reasons why government must not go ahead with its plan but to yield to their demands of not merging the agencies.
Sources further revealed that ATSSSAN has concluded plans to get the endorsement of the strike from all its organs at its National Administrative Council Meeting and National Executive Council meeting scheduled for May.
At a recent media briefing in Lagos, the three unions condemned the action of the Steve Oransanya led committee that suggested merger of service providers and regulatory body.All aviation stakeholders and professionals have condemned the proposed merger describing it as retrogressive.
Contacted, Comrade Benjamin Okewu national president of ATSSSAN neither denied the plan nor revealed details about the action, but said the union will deliberate on it soon at its NEC meeting scheduled for this month.
