As the strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) takes effect, unions in the aviation industry plan to ground activities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport tomorrow (Tuesday).
The general secretary of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Mr Francis Akinjole, disclosed this in an interview with NAN.
Speaking against the backdrop of the grounding of activities at the domestic wing of the airport, Akinjole said: “We just do not have any choice than to embark on what we are doing and it is clear.
If the federal government signed 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 think,” he said.
Meanwhile, flight services as well as other airport activities at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 were grounded on Monday when the strike began.
Union members were seen manning the entrance to the airport as stranded passengers stood by helplessly.
Akinjole advised the intending passengers to return to their various activities if they had any because there was no sign that the strike could be called off soon.
He said the unions were 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.
Similarly, the chairman, Association of Nigeria Airport Professional (ANAP), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) branch, Mr Patrick Evuarhehe, said no skeletal activity was permitted at the domestic airports.
Evuarhehe said it was a fight for all and not of selfish interests.
“Passengers that were here earlier joined us in this strike because they are in solidarity with us.
“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.
For his part, the general secretary, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Mr Olayinka Abioye, said the action was a signal to the federal government that the country needed a responsive and responsible leadership.
Abioye said President Bola Tinubu promised workers a living wage during the electioneering.
“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 added
