The aviation industry in Nigeria has been experiencing a prolonged industrial strike by aviation unions, which has caused significant disruptions. As a result, offices of agencies of the Ministry of Aviation, including the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, have been shut down. The ongoing industrial action has led to heavy traffic leading to the airport, with unionists laying siege at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The unions have threatened to completely shut down Nigeria's airspace seven days after the end of the two-day warning strike. The heavy presence of security personnel, including the police and army, has been observed at strategic points around the airport, while the unionists have been chanting solidarity songs.
One of the unionists, Comrade Abdulrarak Saidu, expressed disappointment that nothing has been done to ensure that the conditions of service are adhered to, even after eight years. He also criticised the Minister of Aviation for wanting to pull down offices of agencies and parastatals in Lagos state. He stated that the minister wants to turn his policy into law and lord it over the industry, even when it is flawed.
According to Saidu, conditions of service were not implemented for eight years. He also alleged that the minister usurps the functions of the governing boards, and there is no check and balance. He further mentioned that the government wanted to coerce the unionists to come to Abuja, but they didn't attend the meeting. He stated that no conclusions were reached, and there was no genuine meeting with the government.
Saidu also claimed that the minister wants to destroy buildings in the sector for a Road map that was not approved for Lagos. He added that even the one approved in Abuja for the aerotropolis, nothing has happened there, and the minister wants to turn his policy into law. He warned that if the government proceeds with its plans, the unionists would cut Nigeria off from other countries after seven days and go into total shutdown.
The ongoing aviation strike in Nigeria has led to the shutdown of offices of agencies of the Ministry of Aviation and heavy traffic congestion. The unionists have threatened to completely shut down Nigeria's airspace seven days after the end of the two-day warning strike. The unionists have criticised the minister for not implementing the conditions of service for eight years, and wanting to pull down offices of agencies and parastatals in Lagos state. They have also alleged that the minister usurps the functions of the governing boards, and there is no check and balance. The unionists have warned that they would cut Nigeria off from other countries after seven days and go into total shutdown.
