Amidst the ongoing strike called for by organized labor unions, the aviation industry unions have taken action by instructing the suspension of all flights to Owerri, Imo State, from airports across the country.
Recalling recent events, it is noteworthy that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared a nationwide strike in response to the assault on NLC President Joe Ajaero in Imo State last week.
In accordance with the directive for this shutdown, the aviation unions, which include the National Union Of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots And Engineers (NAAPE), jointly released a statement on Wednesday. This statement, signed by the General-Secretaries of the unions, namely Comrades Ocheme Aba (NUATE), Frances Akinjole (ATSSSAN), Abdul Rasaq Saidu (ANAP), and Umoh Ofonime (NAAPE), also declared Governor Hope Uzodimma persona non grata in all airports.
In part, the joint statement reads, “Given the escalating conflict arising from the violence inflicted on workers by the Imo State Government under Hope Uzodimma’s leadership and the government’s ongoing insensitivity to this matter, and in compliance with the directive of the joint NEC session of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), the aforementioned unions, which are affiliated with NLC and TUC, hereby instruct all aviation workers (both public and private) to cease all services for Owerri flights (arrivals and departures) from any airport in Nigeria, starting from midnight on 08/11/2023 (today).”