Four major aviation unions have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the management of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, demanding the conclusion of a long-delayed review of staff Conditions of Service or face a total shutdown of the institution.
The unions- Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, National Union of Air Transport Employees, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, made their position known in a joint statement released at the weekend. They accused NCAT management of prolonged indecision and lack of commitment to staff welfare, despite multiple meetings and repeated assurances.
According to the unions, NCAT remains the only major aviation agency yet to finalise its Conditions of Service review, even as other institutions such as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and, most recently, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency have completed similar exercises. They noted that staff at NCAT have endured inferior welfare packages for years in deference to the college’s strategic role in training aviation professionals, but warned that continued delays amount to empty promises.
The unions cautioned that failure to conclude the review within the 14-day window would leave them with no option but to direct their members to withdraw their services, a move that could halt academic, technical and administrative activities at the college. Such an action, they warned, would disrupt pilot and engineer training programmes, delay certification pipelines and worsen skills shortages across the aviation sector.
Despite the strong warning, the unions said they remain committed to NCAT’s growth and are open to dialogue, insisting however that goodwill cannot replace concrete action on agreed welfare frameworks. They stressed that prioritising staff welfare is critical to sustaining industrial harmony at the country’s premier aviation training institution.
When contacted, NCAT’s spokesperson, Jude Amadi, said he was not yet aware of the ultimatum but promised to consult with relevant stakeholders and respond. As of the time of filing this report, the college had not issued an official statement.
