Sanity was, on Monday evening, finally restored at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, after the aviation workers suspended their strike.
The workers under the aegis of the National Union of Air Transport Employees and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria stopped operations on Monday over non-payment of salaries.
The development led to flight disruption nationwide as passengers were stranded at the airport.
However, the Deputy General Secretary (ATSSSAN), Frances Akinjole, who confirmed the suspension of the strike, said: “The strike action has been suspended, and the management of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, NACHo have agreed to commence negotiation on the salary issue with us.”
Earlier in the morning, several international and flights across local and international airports in Nigeria were shut down in compliance with the strike directive.
Several passengers at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) Lagos and Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) were seen waiting outside the airport terminal for their flights which were either being delayed or rescheduled.
One of the affected passengers, Alex Nwuba, had said that NAHCO staff in the early hours of Monday stormed out of international airport, saying they were on strike and will not attend to any passenger.
“Even the Qatar flight I’m traveling with this morning landed and has returned to Doha as there’s no one to attend to them,” Nwuba lamented.
He said passengers are frustrated as they have been kept outside to avoid a crisis and no information, announcements or emails was sent to passengers.
NAHCO handles check-in, boarding and ramp services for several international airlines including Air France/KLM, Qatar, Ethiopian Airlines, Delta Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Air.
Travellers say if the situation is not addressed, more flights will be grounded.
In one of the message by Air Peace to its passengers, the airline explained that due to NAHCO strike, Its flight schedule had changed.
“Your 6:15am flight, P47420, Lagos to Kano for today, 23rd January, 2023 will now depart at 10:00am. We honestly understand the resulting consequence and regret the effect of this unexpected time change on your travel plans. Please bear with us,” Air Peace stated.
Report quoting a source at NAHCO said the management had met with the staff on Sunday over the proposed strike, but assured that the situation will be addressed soon.
An aviation analyst, Mr. Daniel Young, said the situation would result in colossal financial losses to both passengers and airlines.
“These individuals who perpetrate these actions are oblivious of the long term effects of some of those insensitive decisions they take.
“This behaviour by NACHO staff portrays the company as one whose self-distruct code is activated. Even more so, it affects the overall perception of the country and the aviation industry. Timely intervention by concerned leadership is required before the whole industry implodes,” Young said.