Anti-labour law: Strike looms in aviation sector 

… As workers demand removal of offensive clause, issue 14-day ultimatum

Abimbola Abatta

The aviation sector may soon be plunged into industrial action, following the anger of workers over the recent alleged  anti-labour law, which they deemed a bold assault on their fundamental rights.

Nigerian NewsDirect reports that some anti-labour clauses were included in the new aviation bills currently awaiting the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was gathered that the clauses had been inserted into new bills governing affairs of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and four other aviation agencies.

Consequently, a coalition of aviation workers’ unions, on Monday, staged a nationwide protest at airports, a development that left many passengers stranded across the country.

The workers, who called for the withdrawal of the offensive clauses, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government. They threatened to embark on a nationwide strike should the government fail to fulfil their demands.

The unions decried what they described as a ‘subtle attempt’ to restrain their powers and obliterate unionism.

The controversial clauses read thus: “All services which facilitate and maintain the smooth, orderly and safe take-off, flight and landing of aircraft, embarkation and disembarkation and evacuation of passengers and cargo respectively in all aerodromes in Nigeria are hereby designated as essential services pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).

“The minister may, by regulations, prohibit all or such class or classes of workers, officers and other employees or persons, whether corporate or natural, engaged in the provision of services specified in subsection (1) of this section from taking part in a strike or other industrial action.

“The provisions of the Trade Disputes (Essential Services) Act, Cap. T9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 shall apply to service in the agency, facilities managed by the agency and in the implementation of this bill. There shall be no strikes, lock-outs, pickets, blockades, service disruptions, etc. of any kind within all facilities managed by the agency and where any labour dispute arises, such dispute shall be resolved by the agency.”

According to the Secretary-General, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Ocheme Aba, the clauses signify that the bills grant powers to the minister of aviation to regulate trade unions and workers, in contradiction to the Trade Unions Act, 2004, which grants the minister of labour sole regulatory powers over trade union and industrial relations matters in Nigeria.

In his words, “It is clear that the contentious clauses smuggled into the aviation agencies’ bills have no moral or legal basis for being there. The lame reference to Section 11(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Public Order and Public Security) is poignantly pretentious.

“It is an attempt to enable the Minister of Aviation to usurp the powers of the minister of labour and diabolically disingenuous. And it’s bold assault on the rights of trade unions and hapless workers renders the intended law a demonstration of an ultimate disservice by public officers. Therefore, the intended laws must be prevented from breathing any air of acceptance.”

Aba added, “The leadership of the Senate and House Committees on Aviation should withdraw the bills and expunge the contentious clauses before approval by President Buhari.”

On the part of the State Council Chairman of the NUATE, Abuja chapter, Dauda Nambol, classifying aviation workers as essential service providers means it would be difficult to press home their demands.

Nambol, who maintained that such a right is enshrined in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention, said “As workers, if we feel dissatisfied over any issue, we have the right to protest and we will not allow anybody take away that right.”

He added, “We are calling on the President not to assent to that bill because that bill is anti-labour and we will make sure we win that struggle.”

Meanwhile, the coalition comprises the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Amalgamated Unions of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) as well as NUATE.