Keyamo Tells Labour Union To “Leave Aviation Alone”

Festus Keyamo SAN, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has stated that the Ministry had no involvement in the reported detention and abuse of Joe Ajaero, the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), by security personnel.

Recall that labour union leaders, including the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), had earlier protested at the International Airport in Abuja to voice their complaints about the abuse of Ajaero.

“Aviation was not involved at all but their target is aviation,” Keyamo stated in response to the labour unions’ actions at the airport.

“Their retaliation is Aviation. So, please, I want to tell them to leave us alone. Leave Aviation alone. You cannot target Aviation in trying to address your grievances.”

Keyamo delivered a speech during the ongoing Ministerial Retreat in Effurun, Delta State, which is attended by the Permanent Secretary, Directors, and Heads of Ministry Agencies.

According to him, both foreign visitors and citizens going about their regular business were impacted by the protests.

He claimed that by obstructing the entrance to the Abuja International Airport, demonstrators interfered with aviation operations.

Keyamo added, “I pray and am talking directly to them. Do not allow the Labour Party to destroy the Labour Movement. I repeat, do not allow the Labour Party and politics to destroy the Labour Movement.”

He continued: “Call your leadership to order. Don’t get stocked in politics. It will destroy the Labour Movement.”

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Keyamo also said the protesters are “hirelings” of the Labour Party.

He added: “It’s not good for the image of the Labour Movement.

“They cannot be hirelings in the Labour Party and they used them at their will. That’s why you see that the Labour Movement does not control the policies of the Labour Party.”

Keyamo urged labour unions to refrain from destroying themselves by political engagement, pointing out that security agencies had been mobilized by the Aviation Ministry to drive the demonstrators out of the Abuja International Airport.

“I as Aviation Minister will not allow that target on Aviation. They should not target Aviation. If they do that, I will fight back and they should not bring politics to Aviation. Am grounded in this. I’ve been with them all over the years but they cannot deceive me. What they’re doing is politics. It’s not the Labour Movement. It’s politics. You cannot use that platform to go and support a party different from my party when you’re fighting back, you say it’s the Labour Movement. No, it’s not. You should be ready for the consequences if you play politics.”

Keyamo insisted that no one should be physically restrained and denounced the reported detention of NLC National President Joe Ajaero.

He said, “I condemn what happened to my friend, Ajaero. Nobody should get fisticuffs but in the same breath, they should not find themselves in the realm of Politics.”