Monday, workers in the aviation industry blocked access roadways to both the international and domestic wings of Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport in protest of poor working conditions and benefits.
The circumstance has caused severe traffic congestion along Airport Road in the Ikeja axis of Lagos, particularly at the entrance to Murtala Muhammed Airports Terminal Two (MMA2).
An airport official said that despite the fact that entry roads have been blocked, airline operations are continuing as planned.
Airports are not shut down. “As scheduled, flights are boarding,” a source said.
“Passengers are permitted to enter and exit as well. Only the access road was barred to vehicular traffic.”
Last week, aviation unions proclaimed their intention to initiate a warning strike due to the federal government’s failure to meet their demands regarding minimum wage and other issues.
National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) are the unions involved.
The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees are two additional organisations.
Specifically, the employees are requesting the approval and implementation of the agreement condition of service (CoS) as agreed upon between them, the Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), and the office of the head of the civil service of the federation.
Other issues include the non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) since 2019 and the planned demolition of all agency structures in Lagos for an airport city project by the minister of aviation.
Abdulraaq Saidu, secretary general of ANAP, stated on Monday at MMA2 that it was time for the government to adhere to their terms.
He stated that the unions were weary of the federal government’s lack of response to their grievances.
According to Saidu, employees in the aviation industry have faced a number of persistent obstacles over the past seven years.
“For the past seven years, it has been time to liberate aviation workers from the yoke of imperialism, poor governance, and excessive corruption in the industry,” he told TheCable.
“Today, we say enough is enough, which is the reason for this strike.” The strike will continue even if security authorities intervene tomorrow. We have no weapons; we are peaceful.”
Earlier on Monday, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) chapter of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) advised travellers and stakeholders to make contingency arrangements to avoid missing their appointments.
