Airports employees under the various aviation unions in the country on Thursday resumed work, saying there would be no further action until President Yar’Adua returns to the country.

The workers, in a one day strike on Wednesday, refused to carry out their duties in protest over the handover of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL).

“We have resolved to suspend action pending the return of the president from Saudi Arabia,” said Benjamin Okewu, president of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).

According to Mr. Okewu, the unions, Bi-Courtney and delegations from the presidency at Abuja on Wednesday resolved that the parties involved in the scuffle for the terminal are to put their grievances on hold, as they await the return of the president.

The association’s president said the unions are hopeful that Mr. Yar’Adua will be briefed on the decisions agreed by the parties upon his arrival, stressing that, by Monday, the unions expect to receive an invitation from the president for a final declaration.

“We hope that by Monday when the president arrives and gets to know our resolutions, he will finally handle the situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gideon Ogbuji, general secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), disclosed that the unions will not hesitate to embark on another strike if the government fails to properly resolve the handover.

“If due process is not followed in addressing this situation, then they are asking us to down tools again,” he said. “We are saying that the law must be followed to the letter; GAT is not included in the concession agreement, and that is the true position.”

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