The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has appealed to aviation unions to suspend their ongoing industrial action, assuring them that the issues behind the strike would receive attention once the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, returns from an official engagement abroad.
The appeal was contained in a statement issued by the Director, General Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Ona Najomo, who acknowledged the disruption caused by the industrial action and its effect on air travellers and other stakeholders across the sector.
Najomo said efforts had already been made to resolve the dispute, noting that the Minister had convened a meeting with the relevant parties last week. However, the meeting could not proceed because airline operators did not honour the invitation.
The NCAA urged the unions and other stakeholders involved in the dispute to return to the negotiating table, stressing that dialogue remained the most effective way to resolve the issues and restore normal operations within the aviation sector.
“We appeal to all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation. We are confident that the matter will be resolved shortly and normal flight operations will resume as soon as practicable.
“The NCAA regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers and appreciates their patience and understanding,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the aviation regulator assured passengers that the industrial action had not compromised flight safety, maintaining that it continued to discharge its statutory responsibility of providing safety oversight within the Nigerian aviation industry.
The NCAA’s intervention comes as the strike continues to affect passengers and aviation stakeholders, with the regulator expressing optimism that discussions among the concerned parties would lead to a resolution once the Minister returns.
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