Disruption looms in aviation as 4 unions give NCAT 14-day ultimatum
CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO
Four aviation unions have given the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) management 14 days to resolve staff conditions of service or face operational paralysis.
The unions, representing a significant proportion of NCAT’s skilled workforce, accuse the college management of indecision and lip service on staff welfare.
In a joint notice, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, National Union of Air Transport Employees, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers said NCAT has become an outlier in the aviation sector by failing to conclude its Conditions of Service review despite repeated engagements and assurances.
The unions warn that the stalemate undermines morale, productivity, and safety culture, especially as the aviation industry faces pressure to meet global standards.
A shutdown could disrupt training schedules, technical operations, and administrative functions, worsening skills shortages and delaying certification pipelines.
“The commitment of staff to the growth of the college is now at risk as frustration deepens across departments,” the unions said.
They emphasized that NCAT’s role as Nigeria’s premier aviation training institution makes the stalemate more damaging.
The unions said they remain open to dialogue but warned that goodwill alone cannot substitute for concrete action on agreed welfare frameworks.
If unresolved, they plan to direct members to withdraw services, affecting airlines, regulators, and private operators relying on NCAT for pilots, engineers, and air traffic personnel.
The ultimatum follows months of unproductive engagement and broken timelines, leaving NCAT on the brink of an avoidable crisis with far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s aviation training ecosystem.
