Reports reaching the desk of Africa Today News, New York has it that the aviation unions in Nigeria have concluded plans to totally shut down the Murtala Muhammed Airport and others to flight operations and other activities beginning from today (Monday), the 17th of April, 2023.
The situation happened after the unions representing aviation workers across the country gave notice that they would go on a two-day warning strike on Monday and Tuesday to press their demands, which include the implementation of the new salary structure.
The unions are also requesting that the government persuade Senator Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation, to reverse his plan to demolish the aviation agencies’ head headquarters in Lagos.
The unions in a circular issued at the weekend vowed to embark on a full fledged strike if their demands are not met after the expiration of the two days warning strike on Tuesday.
It was however, gathered that all efforts by the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Captain Musa Nuhu to on behalf of the government, persuade the unions at a meeting he held with them in Abuja which lasted till late hours of Sunday failed to yield any positive result as the unions said there was no going back to shut the Lagos airport down.
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A union member who spoke to Africa Today News, New York on the condition of anonymity that the planned shutdown of activities at the airport will be the first of its kind as no one will be allowed access to the airport.
To show their readiness, the unions after a meeting jointly held at the Lagos airport which lasted till after 10pm on Sunday said many of the unions have resolved to sleep at the airport or effect the shutdown from the midnight of Monday.
According to the unions, the government should expect a scenario that played out when the National Association Nigerian Students paralyse activities at the airport during the protest against the shutdown of tertiary institutions for eight months.
The decision of the Federal government through the NCAA to invite the unions to the crucial meeting was borne out of the threat from the foreign airlines to suspend flights into the country until the stalemate is addressed.
During the warning strikes, all the offices of the agencies will be put under lock and keys while allied businesses will be affected.
Present at the failed meeting with the NCAA DG include: all heads of the Aviation agencies, the Permanent Secretary at the ministry of aviation, the Director of Trade Ministry of Labour, the Director Human Resources at the Ministry of aviation, the union Presidents among others