NAHCO strike: Air Peace loses over N500m as unions suspend strike
Domestic airlines are counting their losses due to the industrial action embarked upon by staff of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO today.
Some foreign and domestic airlines managed by NAHCO lost huge revenue today due the strike by workers over failure by the management to accede to their request for review of salaries.
Though the strike has since been called off, one of the affected airlines, Air Peace disclosed that the strike has cost the airline over 500 million naira and paralysed its operations across its large network.
The Management of the airline stated that the ground handling company did not give them prior notice of the strike neither was a public notice issued.
“Neither NAHCO nor the striking union informed us of an impending strike. Our staff reported to work and noticed an ongoing industrial action. If we were informed beforehand, we would have conveyed same to our passengers early enough”.
“Now, all morning flights and other subsequent flights have been disrupted- cancelled, delayed and rescheduled. This has cost us over 500 million naira as we operate over 100 flights daily. Passengers are also attacking our ground staff as they cannot fly.
“We have notified the flying public of the strike but it is important to stress again that the action is by the staff of NAHCO, not Air Peace. It is an action against the Management of NAHCO, and Air Peace has nothing to do with it.
“We regret the impact of the disruptions on the travel plans of our passengers and implore them to desist from assaulting our staff. We are not responsible for the disruptions”.
In a related development, the Unions have decided to suspend the strike after a meeting with the NAHCO management.
The unions, Air Transport Employees NUATE, Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN reached an agreement management that; Management has decided to withdraw the suit and vacate the earlier obtained court order, a counter offer to the union’s demands will be issued by the management before close of business today, 23rd January 2023.
Others are that; Negotiations on staff welfare would commence on Wednesday, 25th, January 2023, All negotiations would be concluded within the week and All staff should resume work immediately. No staff would be victimized as a result of the strike action.
The agreement reached was signed by the secretaries General of the unions, Comrade Ocheme Aba for NUATE and Frances Akinjole on behalf of ATSSSAN and NAHCO’s Group Executuve Director Dr. Sola Obaboli.
The signing was witnessed by representatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Port Health and the Nigeria Air Force.
