The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has entered crisis mode as the Minister, Festus Keyamo, holds a high-stakes, closed-door meeting with aviation union leaders, top ministry officials, and heads of critical aviation agencies in Abuja. This urgent engagement comes amid a paralysing nationwide strike that has grounded operations at airports across Nigeria, plunging the sector into disarray.
The emergency meeting, convened with barely any notice, aims to address the labour unrest that has entered its second day, leaving thousands of air travelers stranded and flight operations in total disarray. Major airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano remain scenes of frustration, with passengers voicing outrage over canceled flights, stalled operations, and a lack of clear communication from airlines.
Union representatives at the meeting include Comrade Ochema Abba, General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and Comrade Oluchi, NUATE Deputy President. Also present are key officials from the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), led by Comrade Alale Adebayo, President General, and Comrade Ambore Samson, ANAP Chairman, according to Vanguard.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Keyamo struck a conciliatory but firm tone:
“We are taking this matter seriously. I am here not just to listen but to act. We are committed to finding common ground and resolving this impasse swiftly. The aviation sector is too vital to Nigeria’s economy to be left in limbo.”
While union leaders have not officially tabled their full list of grievances, insider sources revealed that the strike revolves around longstanding issues such as unpaid allowances, poor staff welfare, and the federal government’s continued failure to honour previously signed agreements.
The industrial action has rippled through the aviation ecosystem, grounding both domestic and international flights and halting essential ground services. Industry observers warn that a protracted strike could cause economic losses running into billions and further damage Nigeria’s global image as a viable travel hub.
Meanwhile, discontent is also boiling over at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), where staff members—under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE)—have downed tools in solidarity. By 7 a.m. on Wednesday, all meteorological services across the country were suspended, and workers could be seen staging peaceful protests at airport terminals and NiMet facilities nationwide.
According to eyewitness accounts, some workers even spent the night at agency offices to enforce a total shutdown. One visibly agitated staff member described the situation as dire:
“This strike is our last resort. Our welfare package is abysmal. A management staff member here earns N470,000, while a counterpart in a sister agency takes home N1.2 million monthly. How are we supposed to survive?”
The protesting workers say their calls for parity and welfare upgrades have fallen on deaf ears for years.
“Despite the critical nature of our services—ensuring aviation safety and climate forecasting—we are treated like second-class citizens. We can’t afford rent, transportation, or even our children’s school fees,” the staff member lamented.
As the closed-door meeting stretches into late hours, all eyes remain on Keyamo and the outcome of the intense negotiations. Will the government act decisively to end the aviation crisis and restore order to Nigeria’s airspace, or will the strike deepen into a full-blown national emergency?
PIONEER NEWS 