Nigerian aviation employees have blocked roads to the domestic terminal of Lagos
airport, slowing traffic and threatening to delay flights as
they began a two-day strike in protest over working conditions
and wages.
In the commercial capital Lagos, chanting workers blocked roads to the domestic terminal on Monday, creating a traffic jam and forcing passengers to finish their journey on foot.
International flights were not affected.
Police and army personnel watched from a distance.
“It is time for us to release aviation workers from the
bondage of this imperialist aviation management that we have
been having for years,” Abdulrasaq Saidu, secretary general of
the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals said.
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Wage dispute
Unions representing pilots, engineers, control tower
operators and other airport workers say they are protesting
against unpaid wages, the failure of the government to implement
a minimum wage for the industry and plans to demolish the Lagos
offices of some aviation agencies to allow expansion of the
airport.
The workers have threatened to strike indefinitely later
this month if their grievances are not addressed.
Earlier in the federal capital Abuja, workers blocked the
main toll road to the airport, forcing travellers to leave their
vehicles and hop onto motorbikes to access the terminal
buildings.
But the striking workers later moved and traffic began
moving smoothly, a Reuters news agency witness said.
Lagos and Abuja airport management advised travellers to
allow extra time to travel to the airport due to the strike.
In northern Kano state, flights were on schedule although
aviation workers picketed at the airport.
Nigeria’s aviation ministry did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.
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