Joint Aviation workers have complied with the directive given by the Nigeria labour Congress, Kaduna state chapter to embark on 5 days warning strike in the state on the ground of anti-workers policies caused by the state Governor, Mal. Nasiru El-Rufai.
This is as the Kaduna airport is confirmed to have been shut down by the union.
The joints unions of the sector include; National Union Of Air Transport Employees, Association Of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and National Association Of Aircraft Pilots And Engineers.
In a jointly signed letter by the leaders of the body unions, the workers said, “the strike was in consonance with the declaration by the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kaduna State Chapter, to embark on the action in protest to anti-labour practices perpetrated against civil servants by the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led administration in the state”.
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The letter confirmed the aviation workers will on Sunday shut down flight operations at the Kaduna Airport as the various aviation unions in the country jointly resolved to proceed on an industrial action till next week Friday.
They noted the decision by the aviation workers will bring unbearable pains to the traveling public as the Kaduna Airport is a connecting gateway for Northern businessmen and the elite who avoid traveling by road as the Abuja-Kaduna Road has become kidnappers’ den of late.
Kaduna Government issue warning
Kaduna state government has warned against any form of looming violence which could occur in the state as a result of the warning strike initiated by the Nigeria labour Congress
The Nigeria labour Congress under the Ayuba Wabba led Union in its solidarity with workers in Kaduna has ordered the withdrawal of services by various unions in the state on the midnight of 16th May, 2021, in what they tagged ‘Anti worker policies’ of the state Governor, Mal. Nasiru El-rufai.
Recalled that some months ago, El- rufai laid off a huge number of workers in the state, on the ground of rightsizing the public offices in the state, as well cutting the cost of paying salaries.
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Addressing the press, Kaduna state Government through its Commissioner of Local Government and the Head of Service, therefore, warned against any repeat of the violence in the state.
“The Kaduna State Government has been made aware of plans by some trade unionists, led by Ayuba Wabba, to reprise the mayhem they visited on Kaduna during their rampage of 8 November 2017.
As is appropriate, the security agencies have been notified of the plans of some trade unionists to recruit hoodlums, including from other states, to create a destructive spectacle and further their self-serving narrative about public service jobs and insecurity”.
Continuing, “the Kaduna State Government wishes to clarify that it will not be blackmailed by the criminal plans to attack and shut down power transmission stations, hospitals, government offices, and infrastructure such as waterworks and streetlights. We note the brazen threat to the operations of private companies, their workers, and facilities and the indifference to the rights and interests of their customers.
“The planned strike action and shutdown are futile gestures, just like Ayuba Wabba’s bluster and histrionics in 2017. Kaduna State government has notified the security agencies who would take steps to thwart the violent intent of the organizers. Apart from the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 protocols, a ban on public processions subsists in this state. This was imposed precisely because of the violence that has frequently broken out from such processions even when they began with innocent intent”.
Meanwhile, the Government has pledged it will protect its facilities and the right of its staff to access and work in their offices” It is unlawful for anyone to try to deny them access or exit”.
“Government offices are not the property of any trade unionist and none of them should entertain thoughts of locking up or vandalizing any facility”, it said.
