Preparatory to a planned strike, two Nigerian aviation unions on Tuesday disclosed that they have warned their foreign associates not to fly into the country as from today, stressing that any aircraft that flies into Nigeria will do so at its “own peril”.
The unions, composed of employees of various agencies at the airport, are the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).
“The situation tomorrow (today) will be too bad, it will be just too bad tomorrow in the industry,” Sefiyanu Mohammed, the NUATE president, said, on Tuesday, at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.
“We have now informed all our international affiliates including WFTU (the World Federation of Trade Union), ITF (the International Transport Forum), as well as others that no aircraft should fly into Nigerian airspace, if they do that, they do it at their own peril.”
Mr. Mohammed said that the union is not going back on its decision to embark on an indefinite strike.
“With the kind of reactions that I am seeing from members, I don’t think the Union will compromise its stand. That will never happen. You will see it with your eyes,” he said.
The president of ATSSSAN, Benjamin Okewu, last Sunday, declared that employees in the aviation sector will begin the strike today.
The unions are protesting against the handover of the General Aviation Terminal at the Murtala Muhammed Airport to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services, stressing that the handover is not legal and not included in the concession agreement signed between the Federal Government and the company.
Also, Mr. Mohammed accused Bi-Courtney of not being in the registry of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“Bi-Courtney is not in the register of the CAC,” he said. “We went further to investigate, and we have confirmed from CAC that it is not there.
“What Nigerians need to know is that the court judgment about Bi-Courtney and FAAN was just a declarative judgment.
“So if Babalakin or Bi-Courtney wants to take over GAT, they should go to the same court and seek for an executive judgment that will now handover the building to them formerly. So what I am trying to say is that it is like the Minister is acting on a script. And we are not going to leave it unchallenged,” he added.
Babatunde Omotoba, the Minister of Aviation, who held meetings with the union leaders on Tuesday, declined to comment on the handover of the terminal and the planned strike.
“I am not going to say anything for now,” he said.