Babalakin, ART fault NLC, TUC over airport picketing

The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport’s Domestic Terminal Two (MMA2), Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), has faulted the labour movement for picketing the terminal and other airport terminals across the country to prevent flights from taking off to Owerri, the capital of Imo State.

Daily Trust reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had last week declared a “No Flight To Owerri” action which disrupted flights at various airports.

Many airlines, including Air Peace, Ibom Air and Dana, counted their losses which they said ran into billions of naira.

The NLC and TUC declared the action at the end of an emergency joint central working committee meeting, accusing the Imo State Government of disrupting the May Day activities in the state on May 1.

Speaking with newsmen during the unveiling of MMA2’s Art Exhibition Centre, Babalakin said secondary picketing had no place anywhere in the world.

Babalakin said, “Unions have the right to protest, but they must also follow the law. There are principles of law you must follow when you want to protest. As a student years ago, one of the things that was prohibited is secondary picketing. You don’t come and block me here because you have a dispute with somebody else.”

Babalakin, who also spoke on the dispute over the MMA2 concession agreement, reiterating that the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) was still being operated illegally.

He decried the refusal of authorities to grant Bi-Courtney approval to operate regional flights despite fulfilling all requirements.