The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has thrown its weight behind the ongoing industrial action by aviation workers, insisting that no employer has the right to prevent workers from joining trade unions.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, stated this on Tuesday during a briefing on the state of the nation in Abuja, where he declared the Congress’s full support for the aviation workers’ action.
Osifo warned that the TUC would resist any attempt by employers to victimise workers for exercising their right to unionise.
The Congress also called on the Federal Government to sustain its economic policies while urgently addressing insecurity to enable farmers return to their farms and improve food supply.
The TUC said although the microeconomy was showing signs of stabilisation, the macroeconomy remained a concern. Osifo also said the naira remained undervalued, with implications for the cost of living.
On policing, the TUC said the time had come for the implementation of state police and urged the National Assembly to fast-track the relevant bill. It also called for the deployment of technology to strengthen efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
On the energy sector, the Congress opposed the outright sale of government-owned refineries, advocating instead for the retention and proper management of government equity in the facilities.
The TUC also raised concerns over the remittance of the five per cent charge and workers’ welfare, while commending the Federal Government for the recent salary increase approved for military officers.
The Congress said it would continue to engage the Federal Government until concrete measures were taken to address economic hardship, insecurity and workers’ welfare.
The development comes as passengers were left stranded at airports in Lagos and Abuja on Tuesday after members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) disrupted flight operations in protest over unmet demands from domestic airlines.
The industrial action, which grounded several flight schedules, is linked to the unions’ demands concerning workers’ unionisation and the remittance of statutory charges to the aviation regulator.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) appealed to the unions to suspend the industrial action and exercise restraint pending “the return” of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who has been working towards resolving the issues.
