Keyamo Breaks Silence, Announces Suspension Of Aviation Workers’ Strike

Nigeria’s aviation unions have called off their planned nationwide strike, which was set to begin on Monday, August 11.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the suspension in a statement posted on his account on Sunday.

The unions — comprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUCPTRE) — explained in a joint statement that the decision followed encouraging responses to their grievances after stakeholder intervention.

According to the unions, the strike is being suspended in good faith to give the government room to address their demands. They added that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has pledged to implement the new remuneration structure and include it in August salary payments.

Similarly, Keyamo welcomed the development, stating that the ministry is working tirelessly to resolve all lingering issues in the aviation sector.

“We are pleased to announce that, following our intervention, the planned strike by the aviation unions has been shelved,” he wrote. “Given my longstanding relationship with labour unions, I will continue to engage our comrades in good faith so that all outstanding issues, many of which predate this administration, are addressed one by one.”