Aviation Handling Companies suspend strike

Aviation Handling Companies in Nigeria under the aegis of Aviation Ground Handling Association of Nigeria (AGHAN), have suspended its planned indefinite strike scheduled to kick off on Friday.

This follows a series of meetings between the body and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Aviation Committees in the National Assembly.

Chairman of AGHAN, Mr Olaniyi Adigun, disclosed that, after its announcement to embark on an indefinite strike, the regulatory agency had been appealing to the association to consider the effects on the industry which is just recovering from the pandemic lockdown.

According to him, the intervention of NCAA was in accordance with the 4 cardinal points of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO); cost recovery, wider consultation, integrity and non-discrimination.

“Considering the impact of the strike on the economy, especially flight disruption, the strike has been called off. We actually reached some certain rates with NCAA, which will be communicated to all soon”.

“It was a thorough journey and the last time we amended handling rate was about 36 years ago”, Mr Adigun said.

AGHAN last week announced embarking on an indefinite strike following the suspension on the implementation of the new safety threshold handling rates by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation approved for handling companies by the NCAA.

On this development, major stakeholders have earlier warned that interfering in the activities of the NCAA, may lead to Nigeria losing its international status like the United States Federal Aviation Administration (US FAA) Category 1 Status the country attained in 2006.