In response to the ongoing strike called by the organized labor, aviation industry unions have issued a directive to suspend all flights to Owerri, Imo State, from every airport in the country. This decision comes after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared a nationwide strike following the assault on NLC President Joe Ajaero in Imo last week.
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 announcing the suspension of flights to Imo.
The 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 as unwelcome in all airports.
A portion of the statement reads, “Due to the worsening situation caused by the violence inflicted on workers by the Imo State Government under Hope Uzodimma and the government’s continued lack of consideration for the matter, in line 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 affiliates of NLC and TUC, hereby instruct all aviation workers (both public and private) to cease providing services for all Owerri flights (arrivals and departures) from any airport in Nigeria starting from midnight on 08/11/2023 (today).”