NCAA Appeals for Calm as Aviation Unions’ Strike Disrupts Flights

By Benson Daniel

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has appealed to aviation labour unions to suspend their ongoing industrial action and embrace dialogue as the dispute with airline operators continues to disrupt flight operations across the country.

The appeal followed the picketing of Air Peace facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja by aviation unions on Tuesday, leaving passengers stranded and several scheduled flights disrupted.

The unions involved in the action include the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers. The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress are also supporting the action.

The unions are protesting alleged anti union practices by airline operators and the non remittance of statutory aviation charges. They are demanding that airline workers be allowed to join unions of their choice without intimidation, victimisation or discrimination.

Another major point of contention is the alleged failure by some airlines to remit the mandatory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge collected from passengers. The unions argue that withholding such funds affects the operations of aviation agencies and has implications for agreements reached with workers.

The industrial action has particularly affected Air Peace, with passengers unable to board some scheduled flights from Lagos and Abuja. Access to parts of the airline’s terminals was reportedly blocked, resulting in delays and disruptions across its network.

The development has raised concerns among passengers and other stakeholders because of the important role domestic airlines play in connecting major Nigerian cities and supporting business activities.

Responding to the disruption, the NCAA urged the unions to sheathe their swords and allow discussions to continue. The aviation regulator appealed for restraint pending the return of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who is working to resolve the dispute.

The authority also assured passengers that flight safety had not been compromised despite the industrial action. It said it was continuing to perform its statutory safety oversight responsibilities while efforts were being made to resolve the disagreement.

The NCAA’s intervention is aimed at preventing the labour dispute from escalating further and limiting its impact on passengers, airlines and other businesses operating within the aviation ecosystem.

The unions had earlier issued a strike notice and subsequently provided affected airlines with an additional opportunity to address their concerns. However, the failure to reach a resolution led to the commencement of the latest picketing exercise.

The dispute reflects wider tensions within Nigeria’s aviation sector over labour relations, revenue remittances and the financial obligations of airline operators to aviation agencies.

For passengers, the immediate concern remains the restoration of normal flight operations. Many travellers who arrived at the airports for scheduled flights were reportedly confronted with blocked access points, abandoned counters and uncertainty over their travel plans.

Air Peace has apologised to affected passengers and indicated that travellers scheduled to fly later in the day would receive updates as the situation developed.

Stakeholders are expected to continue discussions in an effort to reach an agreement that will address the concerns of the unions while allowing airlines to resume uninterrupted operations.

The NCAA’s call for calm has therefore become a critical step toward preventing further disruption and ensuring that disagreements within the aviation industry are resolved through negotiation rather than prolonged industrial action.