Aviation workers ground Imo airport indefinitely, blacklist Gov. Uzodimma

Labour unions in the aviation sector of the country’s economy have declared an industrial action at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, in Owerri, Imo State, as they directed their members to withdraw services from the facility until further notice.

The aviation sector unions, including; the National Union Of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots And Engineers (NAAPE) made the declaration in a joint statement issued, Wednesday.

The unions directed their members to withdraw services at the Imo airport, as they sought to ground  the facility in protest over the brutal assault meted out on the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, last week, in Owerri, during a rally called to protest the poor treatment of Imo workers who are among others, owed over 20 months salary and allowances arrears by the state government.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already scheduled Saturday, November 11 as date to conduct the much-awaited Imo Governorship Election across the state, along with the same exercise slated for Kogi and Bayelsa states.

It is yet unclear how the state government will respond to the development, or if INEC may consider a postponement of the political exercise in view of the emerging issues at stake.

In addition, the aviation unions also blacklisted the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, whom hey branded persona non grata across all airports in the country over his role in the attack of the NLC leader.

The joint statement was signed by their General-Secretaries, including Comrades Ocheme Aba; NUATE, Frances Akinjole; ATSSSAN, Abdul Rasaq Saidu; ANAP and Umoh Ofonime, NAAPE.

“Following the escalation of the imbroglio created by the mayhem unleashed on workers by the Imo State Government of Hope Uzodimma and 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 (Wednesday).

“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.

“Furthermore, all aviation workers in Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri are hereby directed to stay at home, also with effect from midnight today (08/11/2023) as directed by NLC and TUC.

“Based on the above, the State Councils and all Branches of the unions will meet today at 5pm in Lagos and Abuja to agree on modalities for carrying out the above directive. The meeting in Lagos will hold at NUATE Secretariat, while that of Abuja will be at GAT (pilgrims’ terminal).

“By this notice, the airports’ managements, airlines operating into and out of Owerri, intending airport passengers into and out of Owerri, and the general public are hereby advised about this situation so as to be forewarned,” the strike notice read.

According to the aviation workers’ unions, the industrial action is indefinite until otherwise directed by NLC and TUC.

It would be recalled that on Tuesday, both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in a joint resolution declared total nationwide industrial action effective next Tuesday, November 14.

The leadership of the two unions arrived at the resolution after an extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, Tuesday in Abuja.

The resolution is contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting of the labour union by Comrade Adewale Adeyanju (Deputy President NLC) and Comrade Festus Osifo (President TUC).

According to the unions, nationwide mobilisation of members and allies have begun, immediately, adding further that the decision to embark on an industrial action was sequel to the brutalisation of the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, last week in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The resolution also included demand for the prosecution of the state actors behind the violent attack on the NLC President, Ajaero.

They had accused the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mohammed Barde, of complicity in the recent attack on Ajaero, in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

It would be recalled that both unions had handed the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to replace the police commissioner, while also blaming Governor Hope Uzodimma who is seeking re-election of the attack on Ajaero though the governor had since said he had no hand in the attack on the labour leader.

The Organised Labour also demanded the arrest and prosecution of some of the governor’s aide and threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not carried out.

Already, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Sunday, redeployed Barde for ‘neutrality sake’ ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.

While the NLC has accused the Imo State Governor, Mr Hope Uzodimma of being behind the assault on its president at the protest ground in Owerri, the police and the state government have denied culpability in the brutalisation of Comrade Ajaero who needed hospitalization after rhea ordeal.

The Organisd Labour alleged that the police ‘in the usual manner accompanied by thugs led by the Special Assistant to the Governor of Imo state on Special Duties, Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri leading others like Tapey and Madoka, descended on the NLC president after overpowering the few workers who were left after the initial battering, inflicted heavy injuries and big blows to his head and body and kicking him in the process while dragging him on the ground while the Police supervised the mayhem.’

The Imo Government is said to be owing its workers a total of 20 months of unpaid salaries and allowances, prompting the NLC to mobilise its members to storm Owerri, the state capital, to protest the condition.

However, the planned protest by the workers in Imo State turned sour as thugs invaded the rally ground beating up the protesters and further vandalized vehicles of protesters.

President of the NLC, Ajaero, an indigene of the state was also arrested and whisked away by operatives of the Nigeria police from the rally ground.

The NLC had called out workers to protest on Wednesday, November 1 over what it termed; ‘persistent and egregious violations of the rights and privileges of workers in Imo State by the State Government.’

“NLC was deeply concerned about the persistent and egregious violations of the rights and privileges of workers in Imo State by the State Government.

“Despite our repeated efforts to engage in constructive dialogue and reach amicable agreements, the Imo State Government has become a habitual and serial breaker of these agreements, continuing to trample on the rights of workers in the state.

“As a result, we are left with no choice but to embark on mass protests and industrial actions beginning on the 1st day of November, 2023.

“This is to demonstrate our outrage and stop the continuing violation of the rights and privileges of workers in the state,” the NLC President, Ajaero said ahead of the protest.

However, the rally had barely kicked off on Wednesday when miscreants, suspected to be political thugs, stormed the venue in Owerri, the state capital and proceeded to attack protesters.

The miscreants descended on protesters, smashing vehicles and inflicting body injuries on NLC members at the protest ground.

In the chaos, the operatives of the Imo State Police Command whisked away the NLC leader, even as his whereabouts is remains unknown as heavily armed security personnel took him away.

It is not clear the motive for the arrest of the labour leader, whether it was for his safety from attacks by the thugs or to end the protests against the state government.

Reacting to the incident, the NLC Head of Information and Publicity, Comrade Benson Upah, described what happened to Ajaero as an act of abduction that degenerated into attempted murder.

“Contact has been made with Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero this evening around 15:30 hours at the Police Hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where he is receiving medical attention.

“Thoroughly brutalized, his right eye at the time of contact was completely shut.

“Comrade Ajaero narrated that immediately after his arrest, he was beaten up and blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination where more brutalisation took place, sometimes with bottles.

“His phones, money and other personal effects were taken off him and have not been returned to him,” disclosed comrade Upah.

However, responding to allegations of complicity by the NLC, the Io Police Command, Wednesday, denied involvement in the ordeal of the labour leader, citing the existence of a court injunction from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria holden in Owerri with Suit No. NICN/OW/41/2023 dated 27th October, 2023, barring the NLC from holding the intended protest rally in Owerri.

A statement by the Command’s spokesperson, ASP Okoye Henry, accused the NLC of illegally convening a protest rally in the state.

On its part, the state government, in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, denied any involvement in the arrest of the NLC President, as he accused ‘perennial mischief makers always crying wolf where there is none’ of being behind the allegations.

According to Io Government spokesperson, the planned strike in the state had been stopped by the National Industrial Court in Owerri and ‘that makes the planned action illegal,’ adding that ‘the state government has no hand in the arrest since it believes in the rule of law.’

It would be recalled that earlier Wednesday, the NLC Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Nuhu Toro TUC secretary, had in a joint statement accused the Imo Governor, Uzodimma, of conspiring with the state’s Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Barde, to arrest Joe Ajaero, just as the Organised Labour threatened to direct a nationwide strike if the detained Ajaero is not released immediately.