NAHCO embarks on warning strike; flights grounded at MMIA

The Staff of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) on Monday, January 23rd, embarked on a warning strike over the failure of the management to pay attention to their welfare and attend to their condition of service.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that in view of this, flights at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA) were grounded.

NAHCO staff have the responsibility of handling check in, boarding and ramp services for several international airlines.

Monday’s strike however, left several passengers stranded at the airport as they were not on ground to attend to passengers.

A NAN correspondent who monitored the airport, learnt that Qatar Airways which was airborne, returned to Doha due to the ongoing strike of the officials of NAHCO.

Some passengers, who spoke with NAN, lamented the situation noting that the passengers were at the receiving end of the ”crossfire”.

Mr Benedict Udom, who was in the airport with his family, expressed his frustration and anger at the situation.

“Everytime there is an issue with an agency in the airport, they always embark on strike and at the end of everything, it is the passengers who have no idea of what is going on, who suffer.

“When are all these going to end for Christ’s sake, every time, it is one issue or another, what is my business with their issues, it is so annoying,” he said.

Another passenger, Mr Toyin Saka voiced his frustration at the trend of agencies embarking on strike due to internal disputes.

“For God’s sake, what is my business with their internal dispute, that is between them and the management, why do I have to suffer for another man’s sin.

“I’m definitely not going to embark on that trip today and I still can’t comprehend why people use strike as the only option to express their grievances. We need to do better as a country”, he said.

NAN learnt that the striking workers were backed by their unions which included the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).