From Suleiman Amagbor, Lagos
Businesses across Nigerian airports and seaports were on Monday grounded by striking labour unions acting on the directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), as airlines passengers were left lamenting while operators at the seaports bemoaned the lost of billions in revenue due to the strike action.
The two important sectors of the country’s economy were the worst affected as no airline was allowed to carry out domestic operations in the major terminals in the country with Lagos and Abuja worst hit.
The affiliate unions in the aviation industry had arrived at the two domestic terminals in Lagos early hours of Monday and barricaded the entrance gates thereby preventing staff and business owners from accessing the General Aviation Terminal GAT and the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal II (MMA2).
Meanwhile the leadership of the unions have vowed a more stiffer action for Tuesday as they plan to close down operations at the international wing of the airports across Nigeria and stop international flight operations.
the unions, ATSSSAN, ANAP, NAAPE and NUATE locked down the General Aviation Terminal one and the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal II (MMA2), resulting in passengers lamenting the ways and manners representatives of government have for handled the salary issues with the NLC.
Secretary of ATSSSAN, Mr. Francis Akinjole, said activities at the international wing would be grounded beginning on Tuesday.
He warned passengers to return to use other means of transportation as feelers show that the strike may linger more that necessary.
“We just do not have any choice than to embark on what we are doing and it is clear. If the Federal Government signs the new minimum wage today we will leave but if they do not we are starting here today as the commencement day.
“Tomorrow, like we said in our notice to the general public, we are going to ground activities at the international wing.
“The only reason why we are not starting the international wing today is because we are aware that some flights were already airborne, so we are not as insensitive as some people might want to think,” he said.
Akinjole said the union was prepared for the length of time the strike would last but called on the Federal to consider the yearnings of Nigerians.
“We are prepared to go the whole length. Government should pay the Minimum Living Wage, that is what they should do,” he said.
On his part, National Chairman of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) branch of the Association of Nigeria Airport Professional (ANAP), Mr. Patrick Evuarhehe,) said they refused any form of skeletal activity to be carried out.
He said that the action was a fight for all and not of selfish interests because ‘an injury to one is an injury to all’.
“Passengers that were here earlier joined us in this strike because they are in solidarity with us. You understand.
“An injury to one is an injury to all, so, every passenger you see are all labour workers, they are actually traveling from here to one assignment or the other.
“As it is now, they know that my pain is their pain, so it is very important for them to join the struggle that is why you see many of them around.
“They are sitting patiently, doing what they are supposed to do because it is very important for us to get this right at least for once in Nigeria,” he said.
Also, Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) said that the action was a signal to the Federal Government that the country needed a responsive and responsible leadership.
Abioye said that President Bola Tinubu, during his campaign, promised workers a living wage which he had yet to fulfill.
“When President Tinubu was campaigning two years ago, he promised Nigerian workers what is called a living wage.
“We can all see that even the proposed N60, 000, cannot take anybody from his house to the market.” he said.
A passenger, Ms Desire Joseph who spoke to journalists said her planned flight to Calabar with Ibom Air could not take place and expressed hope that the strike would be called off before the day ends amidst the confusion.
On his part, a passenger billed to fly to Abuja aboard Aero Contractor, Mr. Alabi Musibau said the strike was uncalled for as it has disrupted his planned conference in the FCT.
He said that the fight for the minimum wage increment was a spoiler as this could further increase the prices of goods in the market.
Some other passengers who stood by with their luggage, out of frustration, said they were too angry to talk.
At the General Aviation Terminal I, managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN activities were also grounded.
NLC had earlier notified the public of an indefinite nationwide strike beginning June 3.
A notice by ATSSSAN, ANAP, NAAPE and NUATE on July 2, had notified operators and the general public that they would fully support the NLC in the action at Lagos airports.
Offices of aviation agencies in Lagos including NAMA; FAAN NCAA were not spared from the lock down by the striking labour unions.
A similar fate happened to the Lagos seaport where all the terminals were barricaded by stem looking police men who mounted road blocks in strategic locations in Apapa, the country’s premier seaports and prevented movement within the various terminals.
