Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has faulted the action of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in embarking on industrial action capable of truncating the smooth airlift of pilgrims for this year’s hajj.
Besides, MURIC worried over the rationale of NLC/TUC fixing a strike action that will rather make life unbearable for Muslims preparing for Id al-Kabir (Salah), which is just a few days away.
A statement released by the National Coordinator of MURIC on Monday, Professor Ishaq Akintola, insisted the labour unions should have a rethink of their actions in the interest of religious harmony.
MURIC’s statement, however, comes when the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) allayed growing concern about the possible obstruction of the airlift of pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The statement read, “What does NLC think will happen to Muslims whose festival of Id al-Kabir is already knocking on the door? Transport fares to and from their various destinations will skyrocket. Movements will be so adversely affected that the whole Salah period will become a horrendous experience. Is that what NLC wants?
“The notice of strike was too short. It was given from the negotiation table, and it was 48 hours or less. The approach of the current crop of NLC leaders is aggressive, arrogant, fascist, and partisan. The body language is unmistakable. It is directed at bringing the government down. This NLC has no respect for the rule of law, not even an iota of decorum for democratic practices.”
MURIC’s statement further reads, “If we cannot speak for the government, what about Nigerian Muslims whose lives your strike could turn into a sheer nightmare? Is this a deliberate attempt to make life uncomfortable for Muslims? Will NLC declare a strike one week before Christmas?
“Are Muslim workers not part of your union? If we are, shouldn’t NLC consider our interest, particularly our fast-approaching festival before embarking on a strike? What happened to strategic planning? What happened to timing and logistics? What happened to the psychological preparation of people’s minds,” MURIC noted.
The statement by Fatima Usara, assistant director at NAHCON, disclosed that 37,102 pilgrims have so far been airlifted while efforts to convey the remaining passengers have been set in motion. She added that the commission will round up outbound before the stipulated deadline.
According to NAHCON, the hajj flights have been departing as planned, beginning with the initial three flights per day from the day of the inaugural flight and gradually increasing to a maximum of six flights daily.
Although the commission said passengers from Kaduna, Gombe, Borno, Zamfara, Adamawa, Kebbi, and FCT, with 33 pilgrims on the ground, are still awaiting airlift, it maintained that passengers from South South States will also be airlifted in one flight with seat residue yet.
“Currently, NAHCON runs a minimum of four flights daily to a maximum of six flights, depending on the schedule. About 13,176 pilgrims are yet to be airlifted, and this number will be reduced before the end of today.
“Taraba, with a little over 1,000 pilgrims, is yet to commence airlift as scheduled while Kwara, Jigawa, Niger, and Sokoto are continuing with the airlift of their pilgrims steadily on course.
“As approved in the airlift agreement, all carriers deployed the agreed number of aircraft for the exercise. Max Air has provided two operational aircraft with one available as standby.
“While the strike embarked upon by the National Labour Congress is causing apprehension among some concerned pilgrims, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria wishes to assure pilgrims and other concerned Muslims that the strike action will not affect the Hajj airlift,” Usara assured.
