Nigerian aviation strike averted

LAGOS – Nigerian aviation workers yesterday withdrew a threat to strike after their government employers agreed to talks about unpaid benefits, a union leader said.

The strike by meteorological workers, which had been due to start yesterday, could have grounded the country’s planes during an international audit of the disaster-prone sector. “The strike was suspended until further notice after a meeting with management reached a consensus,” said Abdulkareem Motajo, assistant secretary general of the National Union of Air Transport Employees.The dispute centres on arrears owed to workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.The long-awaited audit began in Nigeria just days after a passenger jet operated by domestic carrier ADC airlines crashed on October 29, killing 96 people including the spiritual leader of the nation’s 70 million Muslims.The crash was the third major aviation disaster in just over a year after two passenger jets crashed in October and December 2005, killing a total of 223 people.Nampa-Reuters”The strike was suspended until further notice after a meeting with management reached a consensus,” said Abdulkareem Motajo, assistant secretary general of the National Union of Air Transport Employees.The dispute centres on arrears owed to workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.The long-awaited audit began in Nigeria just days after a passenger jet operated by domestic carrier ADC airlines crashed on October 29, killing 96 people including the spiritual leader of the nation’s 70 million Muslims.The crash was the third major aviation disaster in just over a year after two passenger jets crashed in October and December 2005, killing a total of 223 people.Nampa-Reuters