The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development FESTUS KEYAMO on Thursday faulted the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress , TUC, protest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Labour had on Thursday morning barricaded the airport owing to its face-offFEDE with the Imo State government after the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, JOE AJAERO was beaten up in the South-East state.
The move grounded activities at the airport, leaving many travelers stranded .
Speaking at an aviation retreat for the Minister, Permanent Secretary, Directors and Head of Agencies of the Aviation Ministry, EFURRUN who was represented KEYAMO faulted the move and questioned why the unions targeted the sector that was not involved in the maltreatment of the NLC chairman.
KEYAMO maintained that Labour’s action affected ordinary Nigerians going about their normal businesses, foreigners coming into Nigeria and the entire country at large.
While the minister said he is a friend of the labour movement, he called on the protesting unionists to sheathe their swords in the interest of the nation.
The Imo State government had in the wake of the assault on AJAERO denied any involvement and accused the labour chief of dabbling into politics.
Although the unions have pencilled November 14th for a nationwide strike owing to the assault on AJAERO, KEYAMO warned them to distance themselves from politics.
The NLC, an umbrella group of trade unions, had planned a demonstration in the Imo state capital Owerri on Wednesday over non-payment of salaries and pensions for 44 months and violation of other labour rights.
But state police said the protest had been banned.
The unions claimed police personnel attacked AJAERO after a crackdown on the demonstration.