AVIATION unions have begun a two-day warning strike, which has caused disruptions in the industry today.
Union members have blocked entry to the Murtala Muhammad Airport domestic terminal, leaving many passengers stranded.
The strike is taking place after the meeting called by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) ended in a deadlock with the unions insisting on going ahead with the strike.
Capt. Musa Nuhu, Director-General of Civil Aviation, convened the meeting which was attended by union representatives to persuade the unions to call off their planned two-day warning strike.
Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, was also present at the meeting.
The unions comprises of: the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN); the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP).
And they are demanding, among other things, that the planned demolition of aviation agencies’ headquarters in Lagos be halted, as well as the implementation of service agreements signed with aviation agency employees.
Many airlines were initially optimistic that the meeting would be able to resolve the unions’ issues with the federal government.
But the Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN, Comrade Frances Akinjole in a short interview with journalists last night after the meeting said, “As I am talking to you, nothing has changed. If you don’t hear anything from the General Secretary, the strike continues.”
He later followed up with a text message, saying, “The strike goes as planned.”
A top Airline Chief who spoke with journalists said, “We are hopeful that it would be resolved later tonight, otherwise we are carrying on as if everything is going to be normal because you can’t stop your operation.”
However, the strike has since spread to all Nigerian airports, leaving many passengers stranded. Many passengers were seen walking to the airport as unions blocked access to domestic terminal one and MMA2.
As the unions sing solidarity songs, security operatives, including police and military officers, are on the ground.
