The Association of Nigeria Airline Operators has been urged to engage air transport unions constructively to ensure stability in the sector and avert attendant losses for industry players and the broader economy.

Martins Nwafor, the managing director of Chinua Achebe Airport in Umueri, Anambra, made the call while speaking on the recent face-off that affected services by the airline operators.

Mr Nwafor, a renowned aviation expert, told journalists in Umueri, Anambra East council area, on Tuesday that the disruption was severe, not just for airlines and airports, but for the entire economy.

Recall that aviation unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, shut down operations in protest on August 11.

The protest was against the alleged failure to remit the five per cent ticket sales charge to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), as well as anti-union practices by domestic airline operators.

Mr Nwafor described TSC as crucial to the revenue of government agencies, including the NCAA, the Nigeria Aerospace Management Agency, Accident Investigation, the Nigerian Meteorology Agency and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.

He said, though airline operators dealt directly with government agencies, delayed remittances had adverse effects on their relationships with employees who were union members.

The expert said he did not know why the airline, which was the biggest in the industry, was picketing, adding that the about 80 flights it cancelled caused serious disruptions in the sector.

“Airline operators cannot say that they do not have business with the unions, but these agencies of government they interact with are populated by staff members who are members of the unions, and we now see that they can disrupt their operations.

“The TSC in question generates revenue from the agencies, which get income from the passengers through the airline operators. If they do not remit on time, the ability of these agencies to take care of their staff members will be affected, and the unions are naturally supposed to look for their money,” he stated.

Mr Nwafor, an aviation consultant, advised airline operators not to stifle the labour environment in the air transport sector, but to recognise and talk with workers because they are critical to aviation operations.

He said operators should allow workers to unionise, as it was compulsory for all junior staff members because they all belonged to the Nigeria Labour Congress, while senior staff members belonged to the Trade Union Congress.

He said operators had nothing to fear if they had well-defined conditions of service and a good human resources management system.

“I was the branch chairman of NCAA and FAAN for eight years, later as a national vice president and temporarily as acting president before pulling out for other responsibilities, so I know how it works.

“Airline operators should allow junior staff members of their organisations to join the unions, not management of a company reading a court order against unionising on behalf of employees. It is not possible that staff members can go to court and obtain an injunction against themselves,” he said.

(NAN)