The Nigerian airspace may be shut down in two weeks time by the unions in the aviation industry if the Federal Government falls to accede to their demands.
Their demand is that the Federal Government should without fail pay the N45 billion severance package of the former workers of the Nigeria Airways Limited.
The unions, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) In a petition to the Minister of State, Aviation made available to newsmen in Lagos says they were unhappy over the insensitivity of the Ministry of Finance to pay the workers over 10 months after the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The petition signed by the Secretary General of the unions indicated that they would not wait until the entire ex-workers of the former national carrier die before taking steps to ensure that they were paid their entitlements.
The unions also pointed out that they had commenced the mobilisation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) in a bid to gather wider support for the action.
While commending the minister of state aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika for his concerted efforts to ensure that the workers were paid appropriately, they wondered why the Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun was foot dragging in paying the sum as approved.
The petition read in part: “However, it is disheartening that the Honourable Minister of Finance has unconsciously and negatively priotised the President’s directive on this matter. She has equally in a most uncaring manner, refused to heed all entreaties by the hapless ex-workers.
“Not even the cries of the growing list of the avoidable deaths and other afflictions created by their excruciating conditions of existence had pinched the minister’s rock hard hear. Our previous letters to the minister has failed to move her just as earlier letter from the NLC on the matter.
“As we can no longer wait for all the ex-staff of the Nigeria Airways to die before entitlements are paid, we are therefore, compelled to force Adeosun to come to terms with the reality of the situation and be rid of her gross insensitivity.
“In view of the above, we are sad to inform you that all workers in the aviation sector will commence an indefinite industrial action in 14 days should the ex-Nigeria Airways workers fail to receive their entitlements as graciously approved. We have also commenced the mobilisation of NLC, TUC and ULC towards assuring wider support for this objective.”
Earlier in the year, the ex-staff of the NAL had embarked on a peaceful to expressed their displeasure over the continuous delay in the payment of the severance benefits accusing the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun of delaying the payment.
