Nigeria airline strike leaves thousands stranded

A STRIKE by aviation unions grounded flight operations at Nigeria’s largest airline Arik Air yesterday, leaving thousands of domestic and foreign passengers stranded.

“Arik Air expresses its dismay and disappointment that a group of aviation unions have ambushed and disrupted the operations of the airline,” Arik’s spokesman, Adebanji Ola, said.

“The unions prevented the workers from gaining access to the general aviation terminal and international airport in Lagos, disabling the checking in of passengers,” he said.

Union leader Tokuboh Korodo said the workers were on strike over the non-payment of seven months of salaries by the airline.

“Arik is fond of indulging in anti-labour practices,” Korodo said.

“The airline has not paid its workers for seven months.

“As responsible unions, we have to resist this inhuman policy. The airline has also not been remitting taxes and deductions to the appropriate government agencies.”

Flight operations would continue to be grounded until the airline treated its staff decently, he said.

Korodo also called on Arik to reinstate five union leaders who were sacked by the management “for fighting for the welfare of workers”.

Arik, Nigeria’s leading carrier, is responsible for 60% of flights, with an international network that includes Johannesburg and New York.

The airline has been facing a crisis due to a shortage of aviation fuel in Nigeria, forcing it to either delay or cancel flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

Low crude oil prices have led to a shortage of dollars in Nigeria, which depends on imports for the bulk of its fuel.