Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thurday have mobilised their members for a protest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Abuja.
The organized labour gathered at the airport around 8:58am to enforce their directive to members working in the aviation sector to stop all flights to Owerri, the Imo state capital.
It was gathered that the protest is part of a series of actions that the two labour centres say they will zero in on Imo state, following the attack on the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The NLC and TUC decleared a nationwide strike on Tuesday, November 14th, also in response to the dispute with the Imo State government.
The workers’ unions have begun the procession, with everyone filing out in a convoy heading to the airport.
Protesters blockade both the entrance and exit of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The protesters attempted to enter the airport but were stopped by military personnel at the checkpoint. As a result of the denial, demonstrators blocked the airport’s access and exit points, causing heavy traffic on both sides and forcing passengers to enter the airport on foot.
From Lagos state, scores of passengers are currently stranded across some airports in the country as members of aviation unions barricaded all entry and exit points of the airports.
At the Domestic wings of the Lagos airports, affiliate unions of the NLC and TUC, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots & Engineers (NAAPE) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical & Recreational Services Employees, stationed their members at the various counters billed to attend to Owerri bound passengers to stop any boarding activities.
At the terminal One and Two, Owerri flights that landed were barred from a return leg.
However, this action of the unions also affected other flights as well as vehicular movements in and out of the airports.
Security agencies are on ground to maintain law and order in the terminals as members of the union’s also conducted themselves in a peaceful manner.
In an interview, the Secretary General, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, ANAP, Comrade AbdulRazak Saidu said, the action of the unions have paid off.
According to him, activities at the Abuja airport have been grounded.
Earlier in a joint statement, the unions vowed to make further efforts through their international affiliations to blacklist Hope Uzodimma worldwide.
On Wednesday, all aviation workers in Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri were directed to stay at home, also with effect from midnight Wednesday as directed by NLC and TUC.
However, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo appeals to the Labour unions to desist from politics in the name of Labour movement. He made the declared in a post on X formerly known as Twitter.
According to him, while he totally condemns the manhandling of the Labour President in an incident in Imo state, he is of the opinion that the Aviation activities should not be disrupted.
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