FAAN warns NLC and TUC against disrupting flight operations

Unions undermined aviation and other workers because people lost their flights accroding to FAAN

Key highlights:

Unions disrupted flight operations in Imo State, last week over alleged undue interference in the unions’ activities and unprovoked attacks by thugs.

• FAAN says they undermined aviation and other workers because people lost their flights.
• They added that such forms of protests create vulnerability to uncertainty.

The Nigerian Government has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC)  not to disrupt flight operations at airports.

This warning was issued by Capt. Hamisu Yadudu, Managing Director, FAAN in Lagos on Sunday, acknowledged the union’s grievances with the Imo State Government over alleged disruptions of their May Day rally by miscreants.

Undermining FAAN Aviation

Yadudu said the unions’ disruption of flight operations undermines the sector and also creates vulnerabilities, he added:

• “They wrote to us that our workers would come and picket the Lagos Airport and they should not allow flights to fly Owerri Airport because their members were harassed by Imo State Government.
• “However, for any organisation licensed by the government to behave in personal interest and not national interest, is very unfortunate.
• “It has nothing to do with labour or workers in Nigeria; they undermined aviation and other workers because people lost their flights. I pray no one dies.
• “The more you distress aviation, the more you create vulnerability for uncertainty.
• “What happened that day is very regrettable and just a sign of ego massage and I think that has no place in aviation.”

Illegal Action

The FAAN Chief called the’ action illegal and a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Act which puts aviation as an essential service, citing that the unions undermined the nation by carrying out the action, noting that FAAN would not tolerate such anymore.

FAAN also revealed it has written to the Ministry of Aviation, notifying them of the need to protect the aviation sector from the action of the NLC and TUC.

Backstory

The  Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) embarked on an indefinite strike on Tuesday last week over alleged undue interference in the unions’ activities and unprovoked attacks on workers by agents of the government.