Aviation unions have called for the cancellation of all flights from all Nigerian airports to Owerri, Imo State.
This is in response to a directive made by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in response to the abuse of NLC President Joe Ajaero in Owerri last week.
All of the aviation unions, which include the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), made this announcement in unison.
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In addition to declaring Governor Hope Uzodimma persona non grata in all airports, the joint statement by their General-Secretaries, which included Comrades Ocheme Aba; NUATE, Frances Akinjole; ATSSSAN, Abdul Rasaq Saidu; ANAP and Umoh Ofonime, NAAPE, also prohibited the governor from entering any airport in the country.
The statement stated: “The above-named unions, being affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NEC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), hereby direct all aviation workers (both public and private) to withdraw all services to all Owerri flights (inwards and outwards) from any airport in Nigeria with effect from midnight of 08/11/2023 (today) in response to the escalation of the imbroglio created by the mayhem unleashed on workers by the Imo State Government of Hope Uzodimma and the continued insensitivity of the Government over the matter.
Furthermore, it is thus proclaimed that Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State, is persona non grata at all Nigerian airports until he abstains from any animalistic behaviour.
“Our unions will work harder through our global connections to put Hope Uzodimma on a global blacklist.
Additionally, as instructed by NLC and TUC, all aviation employees at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, are now ordered to remain at home, effective as of midnight on this day, August 11, 2023.
In light of the aforementioned, a meeting is scheduled for today at 5:00 p.m. in Lagos and Abuja between the State Councils and all union branches to discuss the details of implementing the aforementioned instruction. The NUATE Secretariat in Lagos will host the gathering, while the Pilgrims’ Terminal in Abuja will host the one in Lagos.
The managements of the airports, the airlines that operate into and out of Owerri, the intended passengers entering and leaving the airport, and the general public are thus alerted about this circumstance so as to be forewarned through this notification.
Unless instructed otherwise by NLC and TUC, the strike action is of an infinite duration.
