The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA has been directed to remit three months arrears check – off dues to the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN and National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE pending the registration of Nigerian Aviation Professionals Association NAPA.

The three months check off dues was set aside by the management of NAMA for as check off dues for NAPA.

But in a memorandum of understanding reached at a conciliation meeting in Abuja between the ministry of Labour, NAMA, NUATE and NAAPE, the agency was directed to put on hold the deduction of check off dues to NAPA pending it’s registration and due process in opting out from any trade union were observed by relevant staff.

On the pending registration of NAPA, the meeting noted that approval for registration has been conveyed to NAPA promoters and the intention to register as trade union had been gazetted adding that there were objections to the registration of NAPA by existing trade unions operating in the aviation sector, NAAPE, NUATE and ATSSSAN.

The parties were advised to ensure industrial peace and harmony in the sector while the meeting had been slated to hold February 2016 to deliberate on more issues.

Those who signed the MoU include Benjamin Okewu ATSSSAN, Dr Saleh Ibrahim NAMA, Olayinka Abioye NUATE,  Abah Ocheme NAAPE, Abdulrasaq Saidu NAPA, Alhaji Abubakar Tsafe, ministry of aviation  and Mrs CC Dike ministry of Labour and employment.

The conciliation meeting was called based on the trade dispute declared by ATSSSAN and NUATE against the management of NAMA over an alleged recognition of an unregistered organisation NAPA by ministry of Labour and employment.