Workers in the aviation industry began a warning strike on Tuesday, closing down offices of several aviation organisations in Lagos.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency were all closed.
Union members surrounded Lagos’s Murtala Mohammed International Airport, causing traffic jams in the area.
Unionists yelled solidarity songs, while police were stationed heavily at critical spots to keep the peace.
After eight years of signing, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals’ Secretary General, Mr. Abdul Saidu, expressed regret that the terms of service in the sector had not been enforced.
He also disapproved of the Ministry of Aviation’s decision to demolish agency headquarters, saying it was a bad one.
“For over eight years, the conditions of service have not been implemented as the aviation agencies are functioning without governing boards and there are no checks and balances.
“The aviation ministry wants to destroy buildings in the sector for a road map that isn’t approved by Lagos State and even the approved one in Abuja hasn’t been done so what is the point,’’ he queried.
Saidu threatened a general strike if the unions’ demands were not met.
The unions at the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have been demanding back pay and other benefits dating back to 2019, as well as the prompt issuance of the revised Condition of Service.
The unions also asked that the Ministry of Aviation not demolish any structures belonging to aviation agencies in Lagos as part of its airport city plan.
To get the Ministry of Aviation and some aviation parastatal organisations to implement the minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for NiMet, the unions gave them until February 14 to do so.
