AON Strike:Travel Agencies Fear COVID-19 Look Alike Regime Urge FG To Intervene Beyond Mere Promises

By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos

Following the two days warning strike by Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), the President National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies ( NANTA), Mrs. Susan Akporiaye has called on the federal government to intervene to help resolve issues concerning domestic airline operators in Nigeria.

The President who made the call in a statement by the association urged the federal government to do beyond making mere promises adding that the aviation industry cannot afford another COVID-19 look like regime.

“We cannot afford another covid pandemic look alike regime where Nigerians cannot move freely about out of no making of their own, simply because Airlines cannot operate due to poor operational environment,” she said.

She added that the federal government must quickly intervene beyond mere promises.

According to Mrs. Akporiaye, her phones has been busy through the day as Travel Agents and travelling public from all over the world, wanted to know what happens to the industry and travel plans of most people within and around Nigeria barely few months of ease in local and global travel.

“We cannot continue like this and in a situation where we are not sure, our aviation architecture is up and doing, that we can go to the airport and get a flight, where, we cannnot advise the travelling public and our clients that they can make it to any destination in Nigeria without hazzels and to think of it, the mere announcement by airline operators of Nigeria that they are off the sky on Monday, has sent panic around the globe as Nigerians returning home and those coming to do business in our country, has cancelled their flights to the country.

Nanta appeals to the Minister of Aviation to rally around support for AON members and to think that we are also in the heat of preparations for 2023 elections when electoral materials and campaign trains, would move from one end of the country to another, calls for serious measures. We cannot continue like this, it is damaging to our image as nation and our businesses.” Mrs Akporiaye further stated.

Explaining the reason for the strike on Monday, 9th and Tuesday, 10th May 2022, LABOUR unions in the aviation industry stated that the issues surrounding workers’ negotiated conditions of service and other sundry issues have been neglected for nine (9) years.

They said,” The patience of the workers in the aviation agencies have since run out and we have passed yield point, we have not yielded and the system has not broken down and that remains a miracle but our unions have run out of excuses for our members as to why workers are denied these benefits they have earned, some for up to nine(9) years.

“Our demand are simple, we have negotiated conditions of service since 2013 and up till now they have not been released. We have 2019 National Minimum Act that is yet to impact on a nation workers

“Recently, the Wages Commission approved 10% across board increment as a Consequential Adjustment to agencies it remains unimplemented.

“We have two problems with that flat 10% approval. As percentage increase is grossly inevitable, if a person earns N1m, 10% of that is N100,000 and if someone earns N70,000 10% is N 7000, this is grossly inequitable. We have insisted there has to be a graduated percentage increase as a flat increase cannot work for us,” They added.