By NewsBits
Following the ongoing strike action declared by the organized labour, unions in the aviation industry on Wednesday directed the withdrawal of all flights to Owerri, Imo State, from all airports across the country.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), had declared a nationwide strike following the brutalization of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in Imo last week.
In response to the directive for shutdown, the aviation unions, including 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), in a joint statement on Wednesday, suspended flights to Imo.
The joint statement, signed by the General-Secretaries of the unions, including 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.
Parts of the statement read, “Following 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, 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 unions mentioned earlier, being affiliates of NLC and 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).”
The Advocate reports that Imo is one of the three states where governorship election is holding on Saturday, November 11. There are fears that the no-flight directive by labour might affect effective preparations for the election.
