By Our Correspondent | National News
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has appealed to aviation unions involved in the ongoing industrial action to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue to resolve the dispute affecting passengers and other stakeholders across the country.
The NCAA made the appeal on Tuesday as the industrial action continued to disrupt flight operations and inconvenience air travellers.
In a statement issued by the Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, the regulatory agency said efforts were ongoing to resolve the issues and restore normal operations.
According to Najomo, the dispute could have been addressed at a meeting convened last week by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, but the meeting could not hold because airline operators failed to attend.
The NCAA chief said the matter would be resolved following the minister’s return, noting that Keyamo had been actively working towards finding a solution to the lingering issues.
“We appeal to all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation. We are confident that the matter will be resolved shortly and normal flight operations will resume as soon as practicable,” Najomo said.
He assured passengers that flight safety had not been compromised despite the industrial action.
Najomo added that the NCAA would continue to discharge its statutory safety oversight responsibilities to ensure the safety and security of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The authority also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers, while appreciating travellers and other stakeholders for their patience and understanding.
The NCAA urged all parties to exercise restraint and work together towards an amicable resolution in the interest of the travelling public and the stability of the aviation industry.
