Unions in the aviation industry have called for a redeployment of the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal (PCT) Command and all the Customs officers involved in the assault on the Director of Aviation Security Services (AVSEC) within 14 days.
The Branch Secretary Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Ogbe John, Secretary Lagos Branch, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Agbor John, and Branch Secretary, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Comrade Emmanuel Okon, in a statement urged the federal government to clearly define the duties and roles of the Customs operation in a bonded warehouse in civil aviation.
The unions also called on the government to immediately reduce the number of Customs officers operating in civil aviation as obtained globally.
The three unions further called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) management to immediately sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with all paramilitary agencies in the airports, defining scope, roles and responsibilities.
The unions warned that if their demands were not met within 14 days industrial peace and harmony would not be guaranteed at PCT.
“The Attention of Aviation Unions in FAAN has been drawn to yet another assault on the personnel of the organisation by the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), involving a high-level officer at this time – the Director Aviation Security Services at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA).
“Failure to have these demands met may not guarantee industrial peace and harmony at the Command”, the statement read in part.
The Customs Public Relations Officer of the Command could not be reached at the time of filing this report.