Four major aviation labour unions have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the management of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, threatening a total shutdown of the institution over the prolonged delay in reviewing staff Conditions of Service.
The unions — the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) — expressed frustration over what they described as management’s failure to honour repeated commitments to conclude the welfare review.
Unions Accuse Management of Prolonged Inaction
In a joint statement, the unions said the welfare review process had dragged on for years despite several meetings, agreements and assurances, describing the delay as detrimental to staff morale and institutional stability.
They noted that other aviation agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), had already concluded similar reviews, leaving NCAT as the only major aviation institution yet to finalise its Conditions of Service.
According to the unions, the situation has created a growing disparity in remuneration and welfare standards within the aviation sector, a development they warned could undermine productivity and industrial harmony at the college.
14-Day Ultimatum and Strike Threat
The unions stated that if management fails to conclude the review within 14 days, they would direct their members to withdraw their services, a move that could paralyse academic, technical and administrative activities at the college.
They stressed that the ultimatum was issued as a last resort after exhausting internal dispute-resolution mechanisms, adding that their members could no longer tolerate what they termed “lip service” to welfare concerns.
Implications for Aviation Training
NCAT is Nigeria’s premier aviation training institution, responsible for producing pilots, aircraft engineers, air traffic controllers and other aviation professionals critical to the country’s air transport system.
Industry stakeholders have warned that any disruption to activities at the college could have far-reaching consequences for aviation manpower development, particularly at a time when the sector is grappling with capacity and safety challenges.
The unions, however, maintained that their action was not intended to cripple the institution but to compel management to act in the best interest of staff and the long-term sustainability of NCAT.
Management Yet to Respond
As of the time of filing this report, NCAT management had not issued an official response to the ultimatum. Efforts to obtain comments from the institution’s spokesperson were unsuccessful.
Calls for Dialogue
Labour analysts have urged both parties to return to the negotiating table to avert industrial action, warning that unresolved welfare disputes could erode confidence in Nigeria’s aviation training framework.
Observers say a swift resolution of the impasse would not only restore industrial peace but also safeguard the college’s role as a cornerstone of aviation development in the country.