At about 2 am on Tuesday till the evening of the same, Passengers and Airlines were left stranded, as a result of forced barricades at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA2) Terminal, Lagos state. This was done by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) after sacking 34 members of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), without adoption of due process.
Following this incidence, Domestic airlines operating at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, have temporarily relocated to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), which is controlled by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). ATSSSAN alleged that 34 of its members were illegally sacked last Friday with “ordinary e-mails”, by BASL. The union claimed that it was in disregard to the rule of law after being sent on compulsory leave for 10 days.
Information gathered is that most of the sacked members had worked for the company for at least a decade. This was made known by the Vice President and Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN, Emmanuel Jaja and Frances Akinjole, on Monday, during a press conference. Akinjole further added that this act was against Section 20 of the Labour Act on engagement and disengagement of employee by organizations in Nigeria.
The Branch Chairman, Branch Secretary, Branch Treasurer, and Branch Women Leader, were among those who were relieved of their jobs. Ibom Air, Azman Air, and some other airlines have relocated to GAT also, pending the resolution.
