Organized labour unions bar flights to Owerri, Air Peace accuses NLC, TUC of selective attacks

All flights heading to Owerri, the Imo state capital were disrupted this morning at the Lagos airport by the organized labour unions.

Also affected were flights to other destinations from the General Aviation Terminal One and Murtala Mohammed Airport Termunal Two. 

Airline staff say, they are shocked with the development as there was no prior notice of strike or planned disruptions by labour unions.

The disruption of flights to Owerri is reported to be same across airports in the country.

The unions say, the national body, the Nigeria Labour Congress has declared “No Flight To Owerri”, following the alleged disruption of their May Day rally in the state by thugs of the state government.

The declaration is contained in a letter sent to the Lagos State Council of the Labour Centre signed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) secretary-general, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, in Abuja.

The decision over the industrial action was reached Monday night at the end of an emergency joint central working committee meeting of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The letter directed members in the aviation sector to paralyse flight to Imo State beginning from mid-night of Wednesday, May 3, 2023 and to carryout out a comprehensive industrial action against the Imo State Government beginning from today

Meanwhile, Management of Air Peace has accused the NLC Nd TUC of selective attacks as they not only disrupted their flights but took over their counters to stop passenger facilitation to other destinations.

In a statement, the airline said, while they were doing this, another Nigerian airline was allowed to operate into and out of Owerri. 

“They took over our counters in Owerri, Abuja and Lagos, disrupting over 110 flights of Air Peace. This particular illegal action of NLC and TUC will lead to over 400 million naira loss to the airline. It will equally lead to massive disruptions and cancellations of our flights across the country today, and that will snowball into the coming days, too”.

According to them, the the unions had written to them yesterday, saying that no flight should be operated into Owerri today because, as alleged, Governor Uzodimma disrupted their May Day activities few days ago.

The airline stressed that, “Air Peace has no affiliation whatsoever with the Imo State Government or Governor Uzodimma. Our duty and commitment are to the Nigerian flying public that have paid us. We have a contract with them to deliver. This morning, they carried out a selective attack on Air Peace, took over our counters and disrupted our operations”. 

“This is not the first time the NLC or unions will be attacking Air Peace for issues that have no bearing with the airline. There was a time they attacked Air Peace because they were protesting minimum wage with the Federal Government. While the minimum wage was 18,000 naira then, the minimum wage at Air Peace was even 50,000 naira”. 

The airline also noted that, it is even more worrisome that the security agencies were watching while an airline that is discharging its duties to the country is being harassed and hounded by miscreants at these airports, and this is not the first time. 

“We do not understand why Air Peace and aviation should be selected for this kind of treatment. If they have a grouse against Governor Uzodimma, that should be taken to Imo State. Why are they not stopping road transport workers who are going to Imo State?”.

It added, “Aviation borders on national security and we have been made a laughing stock in the world. Who is going to pay Air Peace over 400 million naira lost today and in the coming days?”.