Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Friday morning disrupted flights operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja in Lagos to enforce the ongoing national strike declared by the congress and its affiliate bodies.
This negates earlier assurance by the aviation unions which had earlier said the airspace would not be shutdown as a result of the national delegates’ conference of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) going on in Asaba, Delta state.
NUATE, the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) in a joint statement had said the general strike will commence effectively in the aviation sector on Tuesday October 2nd.
The statement was jointly signed by their National Presidents and Secretaries.
The unions said they are “fully in support of the ongoing general strike declared by NLC, TUC and ULC”.
But surprisingly, the NLC members stormed the General Aviation Terminal of MMIA this morning where Arik Air, Air Peace and Overland operate to disrupt their flights.
It was learnt that Air Peace, Arik and Med-View counters were also shut down.
Sources told Daily Trust that officials of Air Peace put up strong fight against them but the unions succeeded in disrupting their operations.
It was gathered that the NLC members were at the airport for four hours even as some passengers reportedly supported their action.
A source however disclosed that the operations at the MMA 2 private terminal operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Service Limited (BASL) went on smoothly as the unions did not close the terminal.
Spokesman of Air Peace, Mr. Chris Iwarah, confirmed the disruption of their operations, describing the situation as sad as it has heavy impact on their operations.
