Before labour unions destroy Nigeria’s Aviation

GRADUALLY, Nigeria’s aviation sector is being turned to a battleground where even those whose grievances have nothing to do with Aviation find it so easy to flex their muscles.

For the umpteenth time, those behind this game seem to be ignorant or decide to feign ignorance about the almost sanctity of the sector in view of the roles it plays in line with the international standard and recommended practices, devoid of any local sentiments and politics.

It is again obvious that though Aviation is not the only sector of the government’s economy, yet its uniqueness lies in the safety and critical roles it plays which requires huge funding in foreign currencies by the different investors including the airlines, handling companies, the government agencies and allied business-owners.

In other words, the sector in view of its sensitivity and importance to the law of movements of both humans and cargoes, is guided by the International civil aviation rules and regulations to which Nigeria is a signatory.

And because Nigeria is a signatory to the rules as stated in the different annexes of ICAO, it cannot afford to be an island, hence it must be seen to be in total compliance with the rules of engagement.

The ability of a country to live above board in conducting the affairs of the sector within the ambit of the stipulated rules will not only bring a well coordinated, safe and secure Air Transport, but shore up the image of the sector and the country at large amongst the aviation global community.

Sadly, the way things are going, the hitherto International recognition Nigeria has been enjoying due to the efforts of the different professionals in the sector may be sabotaged if the federal government, particularly its security arm, fails to urgently clip the wings of the labour unions in the country.

The labour unions particularly the parent bodies, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which have no direct relevance with aviation have suddenly singled out the sector through where they feel could press home demands.

The ,unions in the recent past, have overstepped their bounds as they forcefully co-opted the sector through the aviation unions into struggles that have political undertone.

How can it be explained that for a communication breakdown that enabled between the NLC and the Imo State government, the aviation sector must be singled out to settle such personal issue?

Amongst the questions yearning for answers from the labour unions include: why they have chosen to unleash their fangs on the sector at any slightest provocation they have with the political class or even government at the centre.

Besides, what stops the unions from taking their struggles to other sectors like the Maritime or even other modes of transport is the aviation sector an extension of Imo State?

These and numerous other questions are calling for answers from the leadership of the unions and failure to convince the majority of Nigerians will amount to absolute lawlessness on their part.

Unfortunately, amidst this uncivilised attitude of the national leadership of the labour unions, their affiliates in the sector, which are expected to know better on how things work in aviation, either deliberately chose to join the bandwagon or seemed to have been overwhelmed by their national officers.

Not quite long, a similar crisis between the same NLC/the TUC and the Imo State government had led to the unions obstructing flight operations, a situation which did not only cause innocent passengers untold hard-ships, but unnecessary financial losses to the airlines whose flights were cancelled or delayed whilst the shenanigans lasted.

It was again the same story when the same unions abused their privileges last week still over issues they had with Imo State. Some of the airlines whose flights were cancelled, rescheduled or delayed because of the latest unnecessary intervention could not quantify their losses.

It is annoying that when these unions carry out this their illegality, it is the innocent passengers, the airlines and even the private investors carrying out their legitimate businesses that are made to suffer for what they know nothing about.

The unions, which are expected to know where their rights/privileges end have been found culpable as in the process of fighting for whatever cause, only end up overstepping their bounds.

The contradiction of the unions is made manifest in the obvious fact that the same unions often look the other way when the same sector has been struggling to remain afloat in the face of injustices inflicted on the workers ranging from bad government policies, non implementation of the ap proved condition of service to undue politicisation of the sector.