Total shutdown of Nigeria’s airports imminent as striking aviation workers reject govt plea
Aviation workers have threatened to shut down the country’s airports, as they enter the second day of their strike to the Federal Government failed to meet their demands.
This was despite a statement by the Ministry of Aviation on Monday, pleading with the striking workers to suspend the industrial action that led to many air passengers being stranded across the country.
The aviation workers embarked on the strike after a meeting called by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ended in a stalemate.
The Director-General, Civil Aviation, Capt. Musa Nuhu, called the meeting aimed at prevailing on the unions to shelve their planned two-day warning strike with representatives of the unions in attendance.
The General Secretary Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Sikiru Waheed, disclosed this to journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Monday.
According to him, the second day of the ongoing strike will be more effective, adding that the first day of the strike was a warning to the public and the government that they are serious about their demands.
He said, “Day two of the strike would be more effective than what you are seeing here now because we only used today as a warning to people that are travelling.”
He also urged people who have scheduled to travel on Tuesday to shelve their plans, saying that the strike action will be a total shutdown.
“So, people who need to travel tomorrow should not book a flight for tomorrow because it is going to be a total shutdown. It is not going to be like today. By 5:00 am we will be here to shut down everywhere.
“We are appealing to all those that want to travel that they should shelve their journey for tomorrow because it may be disrupted. It is a warning for everyone in the public.”
When our correspondent visited the airport, it was observed that passengers arriving at the Abuja airport were stranded due to heavy traffic.
The striking workers locked the check-in halls, causing long queues and disrupting vehicular movement.
One of the airport officials, who sought to be anonymous, said that many of the stranded passengers missed their flights due to the union’s actions.
The situation caused chaos and confusion at the airport, as frustrated passengers voiced their displeasure over the lack of communication and assistance from airport officials.
(News Express)
