ON Monday, May 20, staff of the National Aviation Management Agency, NAMA, withdrew their services to protest failure of negotiations between their union and NAMA management on new salary scales the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission approved for them.

It was the third major disruption of air transport services in two months. Earlier interruptions were either caused when the authorities grounded airlines or by another set of workers with grouses against their employers.

Services were skeletal during the recent case. Top NAMA management staff handled flights operations at major airports, but some foreign-originated flights were diverted to neighbouring countries. Thousands of passengers spent hours at various airports, as flights were either rescheduled or were altogether cancelled.

It is very unfortunate that services in a vital sector of the economy can so easily be disrupted due to failure of NAMA to act. If NAMA management had implemented the pay adjustment or convinced the staff over the causes of the delays, the strike would have been averted.

The attitude of government agencies towards their staff, and the public they serve, reflect in negligence or their inactions. NAMA and other aviation agencies do not seem to realise the importance of services they provide. They would rather explain their actions than act with the promptitude the industry handles strikes in other places.

Flight disruptions have wide consequences in a globally integrated industry. There is no Nigerian standard of aviation practice. The smallest incident in the country, like elsewhere, attracts the attention of experts, regulators, and international standards administrators.

All parties should consider the plights of air transport patrons, who after buying exorbitantly priced tickets, are subjected to untold hardship, further expenses and loss of opportunities during the strikes. Among the stranded are those on important business and social assignments, foreigners, Nigerians returning to or travelling out of the country, families with children, the sick and elderly people. Nobody cares what happens to them, there are no compensations.

Strikes are legitimate instruments for advancing workers’ rights. We however caution that they should be used sparingly and remain the last option. In the past year, there have been too many strikes from the unions, creating the impression that all they do is strike.

During strikes, unions and their employers take their rivalry to travellers. The unions engaged in scare mongering, while the managements provide skeletal services with assurances of safety and comfort. Obviously, they cannot cope as management staff are in insufficient numbers for efficient flight management.

Reforms in aviation must go beyond remodelling of airports. They should include attitudinal changes in aviation unions and management for safe, smooth, stable, reliable operations to cure air travel of new uncertainties.