STRIKE:NLC and President Tinubu ,Consider the Flight of Nigerian Pilgrims-AHUON

As 2024 Hajji operation is smoothly taking place without hitches but the NLC strike which is meant to save the faith of Nigerian workers comes at a time when the Nigerian pilgrims who saved their hard-earning money to observe this lifetime event and a pillar of Islam are airlifted to Saudia Arabia. This situation of strike continues for a day the stakeholders and pilgrims will find it extremely difficult to survive the effect of the industrial action.

Association for Haj and
Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) is one of the critical stakeholders in Hajji operations in Nigeria as it facilitates the participation of 20,000 intending pilgrims out of 65,000 slots provided for Nigeria in this year’s (2024) Hajji exercise.

The National President of the Association Abdulateef Ekundayo Yusuf urged the NLC to consider the plight of these innocent Nigerians who are mostly members of different Labour Unions who painstakingly saved out of their meager income to observe this lifetime exercise by calling off the strike till after Hajji and Edil-Kabeer festivity.

The statement

“We understand the
position of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to press
for a better working condition for the Nigerian worker, we also feel the pains of all
Nigerians are at this trying period.

However, we strongly feel the declaration and commencement of the nationwide strike
action is ill-timed and unfavorable for the Nigerian Muslim community. We would like to call
the attention of the Labour Congress to the impact of the strike on one of the most
fundamental pillar of Islam which is Haj which is followed by the Eid Kabir festival
nationwide and the financial implications the strike will have on Muslims who have
saved for years to be able to embark on this holy journey. Additionally, the financial
loss to our members will run into Billions of naira after having completed all necessary
arrangements of accommodation, transportation, feeding in both Mecca and Madinah,
including issued tickets and visas for thousands of people (of which payments are non-
refundable) who will be affected by the disruption of both local and international flights
operations
We hereby call on the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress
to please re-consider their stand on the timing of the strike action in the interest of
Nigerian Muslims who form the majority of their membership strike until after Hajj to
avert huge financial losses that will be borne by the average Nigerian. We trust our plea will
meet favorable consideration from the leadership of the two Unions as they’re
sensitive to our religious diversity” The AHUON stated

He also urged both the Federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and NLC to save Nigerian Pilgrims at this time, if this strike extended beyond today ( Monday 3rd of June 2024) the losses and casualties of the situation would be unquantifiable.