Nigerian aviation workers block roads as strike over pay begins

Singing Nigerian airline workers block roads to the domestic terminal at the start of a two-day protest over working conditions and wages.

Nigerian airline workers blocked roads to the domestic terminal of Lagos airport on Monday, slowing traffic and threatening flights as they began a two-day strike to protest working conditions and wages.

The strike, which began Monday, is likely to exacerbate problems at Africa’s largest oil producer. The industry regularly faces shortages of jet fuel, often resulting in local flights being grounded and international airlines struggling to repatriate ticket revenue due to a shortage of foreign exchange.

In the commercial capital of Lagos, chanting workers blocked roads to the domestic terminal, causing a traffic jam and forcing passengers to complete their journey to the terminal on foot. International flights were not affected.

Police and army personnel watched from a distance.

“It is time we freed aviation personnel from the bondage of this imperialist aviation management that we have had for years,” said Abdulrasaq Saidu, Secretary General of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals.

Unions representing pilots, engineers, control tower operators and other airport workers say they are protesting unpaid wages, the government’s failure to introduce a minimum wage for industry and plans to demolish the Lagos offices of some aviation agencies to allow expansion of the airport. airport.

The workers have threatened to strike indefinitely later this month if their grievances are not addressed.

Earlier, workers in the federal capital Abuja blocked the main airport toll road, forcing travelers to abandon their vehicles and onto motorbikes to access the terminal buildings.

But the striking workers later moved and traffic was moving smoothly, witnesses said.

Lagos and Abuja airport management advised travelers to allow extra time to arrive at the airport due to the strike.

In the northern state of Kano, flights were on schedule, even though airline staff set up a picket line at the airport.

The Nigerian aviation ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on Monday.