Several international and local airports in Nigeria on Monday, January 23, 2023, have been grounded as Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO), embarks on an indefinite strike over salary increment, leaving passengers stranded.

As a result, many passengers at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, (MMA2), Lagos, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, were left stranded outside the airport terminal as their flights were either being delayed or rescheduled.

The National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, confirmed the strike action in an official statement that was co-signed by the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN.
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The aviation unions maintain that: “As all ultimatum issued by our Unions have gone unheeded, and the management continues to play on our intelligence through scheduling of purposeless meetings, we have concluded that the management has decided against harkening to our cries for fairness and equity, despite overwhelming evidence in support of our demand”.
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“In view of the above, NUATE and ATSSSAN have no other choice than to take definite steps to press home our demands.”

According to officials at the airport, the airlines affected are the ones being handled by the protesting workers, while other airlines with different arrangements are being cleared for scheduled flights.

 NAHCO handles check-in, boarding, and ramp services for some international airlines including Air France/KLM, Qatar, Ethiopian Airlines, Delta Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Air, Rwanda Air, and ASKY among others.

Story: Hauwa Mohammed

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