Air transport workers ready for minimum wage strike

In spite of court’s restraining order, unions have vowed to paralyse air transport beginning from Nov. 6 as part of the nationwide industrial action to drum home workers’ agitation for N30,000 minimum wage.
The unions issued the warning in a Notice of Strike dated Nov. 3, 2018 which was sent to all their branches across the county.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) had called for the indefinite strike over the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage.
The notice of strike was issued by their affiliates in the aviation sector – the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).
Others are the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP).
It was jointly signed by Mr Ocheme Aba, General Secretary, NAAPE; Mr Francis Akinjole, Deputy General Secretary, ATSSSAN; Mr Temenu Akinola, Asst. General Secretary, NUATE and Mr Rasaq Saidu, Secretary General, ANAP.
The unions decried the government’s unwillingness to implement the report of the tripartite committee on minimum wage review.
” In complying with the directive of the labour centers therefore, we issue this notice to all workers in the aviation sector to withdraw all services from Nov. 6.
“This notice also applies to all businesses and agencies involved with aviation to be aware of the above situation and adjust their businesses accordingly.
“The general public, especially the international travelling public, are equally notifies to avoid, or cancel plans to utilise aviation services within the period of the strike,” they said.
The unions emphasised that all workers must comply with this directive as they would not tolerate any sabotage of the industrial action.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria had on Nov. 2 ordered the trade unions not to embark on the planned indefinite strike.
Justice Sanusi Kado gave the order in a ruling on an ex parte application brought before it on behalf of the federal government by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and permanent secretary in Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata. 
The judge said the order of interim injunction became necessary due to the urgency of the matter and the need to protect the overall interest of the public.