The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu, has disclosed that the industrial action by aviation workers which started on Monday has resulted into “heavy financial losses” running into billions of Naira.
Speaking on Channels TV on Tuesday on the two-day warning strike, Nuhu said the heavy financial losses were due to flight cancellations.
Persecondnews recalls that the strike by aviation unions enters its second day today, leaving passengers stranded at the various airports and also resulting in flight cancellations.
The DG of NCAA said in the eventuality of flight cancellations, passengers would be entitled to 100 per cent refund immediately in the new regulations that would be signed into law very soon.
Nuhu said: “What we have in the new regulation that will be signed into law very soon when it is all cleaned up is that if you cancel my flight, you should put me on another flight or give me the option of getting refund immediately so that I can make other plans.
“Without the passengers, we don’t exist. The passengers are those who pay our salaries. Majority of the entire generated revenue of the NCAA, 80% or more, is from the 5% paid by the passengers. So, they pay our salaries.”
According to the NCAA boss, flight cancellations during the strike had led to direct losses to airlines and indirect losses to the economy.
On the losses, Nuhu said: “Certainly in billions. From direct losses to the airlines and indirect losses to the economy because when people miss their connections a lot is lost.
” I can’t say but I can guarantee you it is in billions. At least over a billion. I think I am being very conservative.”
Persecondnews gathered that the aviation industry contributes 0.04 percent to the GDP in Nigeria with airlines and its supply chains adding $600 million, spending by foreign tourist stand at $1.1 billion, bringing the total contribution from the sector to $1.7 billion.
Nuhu also urged the striking union to consider the innocent passengers and also the aviation industry that has suffered severe financial loss in the last 24 hours.
“I understand the frustrations of the union but by going on strike, it is the innocent passengers that will suffer from this strike.
“And it is also the aviation industry, the ground handlers, the airlines that will suffer,” he said.
Meanwhile, Comrade Abdulrazaq Saidu, the Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), has warned that after the expiration of the two days warning strike, the union will give the Federal Government and the Federal Executive Council seven days ultimatum, before embarking on an indefinite strike.
“We are being pushed to the wall by the Minister of Aviation; at the expiration of the two days warning strike and the seven days ultimatum, we would shut down all the airports indefinitely.”
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