The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Yadudu wants the organized labour to stay away from the industry as their action is inimical to air safety, security, growth and development of the sector.
Captain Yadudu stated this while feeding questions from aviation reporters during the on the spot assessment by members of the house committee on aviation on the demolished buildings at the Runview estate in Ajao, Lagos.
He said, their action of picketing which often is violent in nature would no longer be tolerated in the industry as million of naira are lost by their action.
On Wednesday last week, members of the organized labour, Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress disrupted flights operations to Owerri, the Imo state capital over alleged disruption of their workers day celebration by thugs of the state government.
The ‘No Flight to Owerri’ exercise by labour attained a different dimension as the protesting union members disrupted flights to other destinations, shut down airline counters leading to massive delays of flights.
The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu says, the action of labour is unacceptable and a deliberate plan to undermine aviation and other workers.
He said the management had written to the minister of aviation telling him the government needs to protect the sector from the action of the NLC, adding that airports are not places for anybody to come and exercise violent behaviour or mob action.
“We will not take it, What happened that day is very regrettable and just a sign of ego massage and I think that has no place in aviation NLC should stay away from aviation, I think picketing needs to evolve. No body pickets in modern society now”.
On the demolition of houses at the Ajao estate, Captain Yadudu said, the buildings are an impediment to the airport recertification by the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO.
“The international community knows it is a violation of safety. When we got the first one, these factors were among the issues they raised and they gave us time to remedy it before they return for recertification. We told them to give us one year to address it, but it took us four years to achieve”.
The team Leader of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation fact-finding mission, Mr. Ifeanyi Momah assured, they would report back to the committee on what they have seen and communicate back to the public.
“The committee will make their position known officially to the public in due course. The committee will address the media on some of the lingering issues”.
FAAN had at last week demolished 13 houses in the Runview Estate in Ajao area of the Lagos airport saying, they constituted grave danger to safety and security of flight operations and occupants duly warned of the impending demolition.