Emmanuel Ochayi
All flights to Owerri Airport in Imo State will come to a standstill starting from midnight on Thursday. This decision was announced by a coalition of aviation industry unions, who also took the extraordinary step of declaring Mr. Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State, persona non-grata at all airports in Nigeria.
The unions, representing various aviation workers, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUCPTRE), conveyed their withdrawal of services to the media.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelComrades Ocheme Aba (NUATE), Frances Akinjole (ATSSSAN), Abdul Rasaq Saidu (ANAP), Umoh Ofonime (NAAPE), and Sikiru Waheed (AUCPTRE) jointly signed the statement, citing their reasons for this action.
The cause of their decision was the alleged maltreatment of Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), by the Imo State Government the previous week.
READ ALSO: NLC, TUC Orders Immediate Withdrawal Of Services In Imo
The unions did not stop at grounding flights; they issued a stern warning to Governor Hope Uzodimma, stating that he would remain unwelcome at all airports in Nigeria until he “purges himself of bestial tendencies.”
Furthermore, they emphasized their intention to use their international affiliations to blacklist the governor on a global scale.
The joint statement issued by the unions read, “Following the escalation of the imbroglio created by the mayhem unleashed on workers by the Imo State Government of Hope Uzodimma and the continued insensitivity of the Government over the matter; and in compliance with the directive of the joint NEC session of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), the above-named unions, being affiliates of NLC and TUC, hereby direct all aviation workers (both public and private) to withdraw all services to all Owerri flights (inwards and outwards) from any airport in Nigeria with effect from midnight of 08/11/2023 (today).”
The statement continued, “In addition, the person of Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State, is hereby declared persona non grata at all airports in Nigeria until he purges himself of bestial tendencies. Our unions will make further efforts through our international affiliations to blacklist Hope Uzodimma worldwide.”
The aviation workers at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri were also directed to stay at home, effective from midnight on the same day, as per the directives of the NLC and TUC.
State Councils and union branches were set to convene meetings in Lagos and Abuja to discuss the modalities for implementing these far-reaching directives.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
