Travellers stranded as union blocks Lagos airport building

Scores of travellers were stranded on Tuesday as the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) barricaded the ‘Terminal 2’ building of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The union barricaded the terminal building of the Lagos airport to deny access in a protest against the sacking of some of its leaders by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), the operator of the terminal building.

The BASL, on October 14, sent 34 of its staff members on mandatory leave of absence.

It said the action was “to allow management to assess the efficiency of the new terminal building and allowances will be paid during this period.”

Two weeks after, on October 28, BASL gave the affected workers, which included the chairman, secretary, treasurer, and women leader of the senior staff association letters of termination of appointments.

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However, ATSSSAN, in its reaction on Tuesday, declared a strike action against BASL and withdrew its services.

The Deputy General-Secretary of the union, Frances Akinjole, who made this known via a statement issued on Tuesday, stated that ATSSSAN viewed BASL’s actions as victimisation of union executives and members who made demands for their rights.

Akinjole noted that the union’s attempts to negotiate with the BASL to recall its affected members to work had met with brick walls.

A passenger who had a 7 a.m. flight to Abuja, Abiodun Dipo, on Tuesday, expressed his displeasure about the situation, saying:  “The disagreement between the union and terminal building operator can be resolved in civil ways other than blocking the airport and leaving passengers to suffer untoward hardship.

“What is my business in the fact that both of them have issues to resolve? But then, I have missed my flight to Abuja which has come at a cost.”

Another traveller, Sade Fadipe, who was at the airport with her two-year-old son, said: “I have an important medical appointment for my son, but I have missed the appointment because of something that has absolutely nothing to do with me.

“There are better ways to resolve issues and not by making everyone suffer for something we have absolutely no idea. So who would compensate us for their failure?’’ Fadipe stated.

The Star