LAGOS (Sundiata Post) – The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has commended the resilience, dedication, and resourcefulness of aviation workers in ensuring safe skies and seamless operations across the country.
In his 2025 Workers’ Day message delivered in Lagos on Thursday, NUATE National President, Comrade Ben Nnabue, praised aviation workers for maintaining secure and comfortable air transport environments despite numerous challenges facing the sector.
“Aviation workers have consistently delivered vital services under challenging conditions, showing unwavering commitment to safety and service delivery,” Nnabue said.
He, however, highlighted persistent issues hampering industry growth.
He listed of these to include the absence of Boards of Directors for aviation agencies, poor remuneration, and the federal government’s continued deduction of 50 per cent of internally generated revenue from aviation agencies in spite of earlier agreements for a review.
Nnabue expressed concern over the ongoing concession of airports, stating that workers remained apprehensive due to a lack of clarity on the resolution of labour-related matters.
He also called on the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to hasten approvals of reviewed conditions of service for aviation agencies.
The NUATE president further urged the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to take urgent steps to address underpricing of labour and improve workers’ welfare to avert potential industrial actions.
Nnabue took a swipe at some domestic airlines for denying workers their right to unionise and warned of imminent action against Turkish Airlines if it continued to restrict workers from joining unions.
He also called for the immediate settlement of outstanding entitlements to former staff of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways.
Nnabue encouraged aviation workers to remain steadfast and rededicate themselves to their roles as vital drivers of national development.(NAN)
