Hundreds of passengers are reportedly stranded at the domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2(MMA2) in Lagos following a shutdown by the unions on Wednesday.
The passengers were taken unaware of aviation unions’ plans to shut-down the airport over the sack of workers by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, a company that provides
services at the airport.
services at the airport.
The unions involved in the shutdown are Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
They disregarded
a Federal High Court order granted Tuesday restraining them from disrupting the operations of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2).
a Federal High Court order granted Tuesday restraining them from disrupting the operations of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2).
The court granted the order in the suit filed by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of MMA2.
The unions had given notice that they
would disrupt operations at MMA2 from today over the disengagement of
some workers of BASL who they said were disengaged for their alleged
attempt to join them, but who the company said had
attained retirement age or were found not to be diligent in their
duties.
would disrupt operations at MMA2 from today over the disengagement of
some workers of BASL who they said were disengaged for their alleged
attempt to join them, but who the company said had
attained retirement age or were found not to be diligent in their
duties.
BASL has said: “We will
like to bring it to the attention of the entire public that the Federal
High Court in Lagos in suit number FHC/L/CS/16412/18 has granted an
order restraining the unions
from carrying out their threats of disrupting the activities of the
terminal.
like to bring it to the attention of the entire public that the Federal
High Court in Lagos in suit number FHC/L/CS/16412/18 has granted an
order restraining the unions
from carrying out their threats of disrupting the activities of the
terminal.
“Pursuit to this order, members if the
unions found in the premises of MMA2 would be liable to trespass. We
reserve our right under the law of Nigeria to deal with such person as a
trespasser”.
unions found in the premises of MMA2 would be liable to trespass. We
reserve our right under the law of Nigeria to deal with such person as a
trespasser”.
BASL also assured customers and passengers of MMA2 that they will continue having seamless access to the facility.
“BASL is fully aware of the
plan by some unions in the aviation sector to disrupt the operations of
MMA2 over our decision to disengage some employees. Disengaging the
ex-employees had nothing
to do with unionism, as we were not aware of this.
plan by some unions in the aviation sector to disrupt the operations of
MMA2 over our decision to disengage some employees. Disengaging the
ex-employees had nothing
to do with unionism, as we were not aware of this.
“In as much as we know that the unions
have the right to protest without disturbing public peace and safety, we
too reserve the right to ensure that our operations and services are
not interrupted in any way whatsoever.”
have the right to protest without disturbing public peace and safety, we
too reserve the right to ensure that our operations and services are
not interrupted in any way whatsoever.”
