Protesting NLC, TUC Members Ground Activities At Abuja Airport… 

Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday grounded activities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International in Abuja. 

The move is part of actions by the unions following an attack on the president of the NLC Joe Ajaero in Imo State.

The protesters blocked the airport’s entry and exit routes.

But what started as a state issue has now taken a national undertone as the protesting unionists stormed the venue around 8:58 a.m., grounding aviation activities in one of the country’s busiest airports.

They were at the airport to halt flights going to Owerri, the Imo State capital. While security operatives prevented them from entering the airport, the protesters blocked the airport’s entry and exit routes, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. Many of them abandoned their vehicles and instead trekked.

Organised labour’s action has left many Nigerians, including airport users, stranded.

The development is the latest in the faceoff between labour and the Imo State government which the unions had accused of using police officers to assault the NLC chief.

While police authorities in the state have denied involvement in the assault with with the government accusing Ajaero of meddling in politics, organised labour declared a nationwide strike for November 14th, 2023.

Critics and observers say the move would throw an ailing economy into more turmoil, but the NLC and TUC insist it would go ahead with the industrial action if the government failed to meet its demands, which included the resignation of police officials.