Due to the aviation workers’ strike, airlines operating out of Lagos airport terminals and other airport terminals nationwide on Monday had to cancel and postpone flights.
Passengers were forced to walk with their bags inside the airport terminals due to blocked entrances into Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, (MMA2) and General Aviation Terminal (GAT).
Passengers were left trapped between terminals when certain airlines’ flights were not allowed to leave the airports.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced on Monday, June 3, that they would join an indefinite strike over the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000. The News Chronicles had earlier reported that there may be flight delays and cancellations on Monday.
The secretary general of the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, Abdul Rasaq Saidu, signed a letter stating that the organization is aware of the struggles and grievances that all members of the working class face, but “the federal government did not reason to do the needful to pay acceptable wages in spite of the masses outcry.”
“The national assembly’s nonchalant attitude on the face-off between organized labor and the federal government is ridiculous and very unacceptable,” Saidu continued.
As to the letter, “all aviation workers and ANAP members are directed to abstain from work starting at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024, as instructed by the NLC and TUC, until further notice, in view of the aforementioned.”
The development was confirmed by Ado Sanusi, managing director of Aero Contractors, who stated that although flights are operating, there are delays due to disturbances caused by aviation personnel.
According to Sanusi, although the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) continue to offer vital services to the airlines, customers’ difficulties accessing the terminals are causing flights to be delayed.
The United Nigeria Airlines revealed in a statement that none of its scheduled flights have been allowed to leave the airport, which has a substantial impact on its operations and services.
“We deeply apologize for any trouble this has caused to your vacation arrangements. Please be assured that we are actively monitoring the situation to assess its impact on our operations and will offer updates as necessary,” the airline wrote.
