National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), has concluded plans to paralyse the aviation industry in Nigeria by mid-night on Sunday, if their entitlements are not paid.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos, National President of NUATE, Comrade Imonite Itua, said the retirees are tired of empty promises and now that they have decided to come out, they are not going to retreat or surrender until the Federal Government pays all their entitlements.
Itua said the ultimatum given to the Federal Government will expire on Sunday, and appealed that the government pays the former employees, as the union is determined to use all available means at its disposal to ensure the success of the strike.
Another union Leader, Comrade Lukman Animashaun, said the workers cannot continue to wait in vain after years of leaving the service, adding that workers have now decided to fight for their rights and called on the Federal Government to follow due process and pay the retirees immediately to avert the strike.
One of the retirees, Mr Christopher Inahinon, who said he was a cabin worker, lamented that after serving the country diligently, he should be subjected to such inhuman treament and neglect, adding that government should do all it can to pay them.
He stated that holding their money is �wickedness as some of us are going through hell.� Inahinon said he could not fulfil his obligation to his father as the head of the home.
In his speech at the occasion, the General Secretary of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Comrade John Kolawole said the former employees who have served the country deligently during their prime deserved a better treatment.
He therefore called on the Federal Government to urgently settle the entitlements of the retired workers so as to alleviate their hardship.
“You have worked very hard and he who sow must reap. Now is the time of harvest, no one will deprive you of the fruits of your labour.
The Federal will respond to this urgent call because it is your money ,you have worked for it. But if that is not done before the expiration of the ultimatum, then the strike will commence and I can assure you TUC and the Nigrian Labour Congress (NLC) is full support of the strike” he said.