Workers to shut airport, train station as strike begins in Kaduna

Electricity and airport workers have vowed to cripple activities in Kaduna following the industrial action declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

Foremost Aviation unions – the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) have issued a joint notice to join the strike in compliance with the NLC directive.

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The NLC had declared the industrial action to protest what it called the anti-labour policies of the Kaduna State Government, especially the mass sack of workers.

Many trade unions have also pledged their resolve to join the strike.

Among them is the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NUR), the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), which had issued separate notices to join the one-week strike.

While the aviation unions are vowing to shut down the airport, the NUR also said it would shut down the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS).

In a letter dated 14th May 2021 to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the aviation unions informed that they would proceed on the action in compliance with the NLC’s directive with effect from midnight of Sunday, the 16th of May, 2021 to midnight of Friday the 21st of May.

“Accordingly, all workers at the Kaduna Airport have been directed to withdraw all services at the airport within the stipulated period.

“In effect, there will be no operations of any kind, into, at or out of the airport within the period.

“This information is provided to enable your management take steps to safeguard valuable property within the airport vicinity during the period of the industrial action,” the letter signed by General Secretary, NUATE, Aba Ocheme; Deputy General Secretary, NAAPE, Umoh Ofonime and Secretary-General of ANAP, Abdulrazaq Saidu, read.

Also NUR General Secretary, Comrade Segun Esan, in a letter to the NUR, AKTS branch directed mass mobilisation of members ahead of the strike.

“By the strength of this letter and the circular of the Congress herewith attached, you are directed to commence mass mobilisation of our members and the entire workers of AKTS and other railway premises within and around Kaduna State for industrial action against the government of Kaduna State with a resolve to shut down all train stations within AKTS and environs with effect from 00 hours of Sunday 16th May 2021 until otherwise directed,” the letter dated May 11, 2021 read.