The Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) has condemned the ongoing labour action at Nigerian airports, describing the picketing of Air Peace as disruptive and selective. The intervention came as Enugu Air and United Nigeria Airlines suspended operations, showing the wider consequences of industrial action across the aviation sector.
President of ASRTI, Group Captain Ademola Onitiju, said the industry thinks tank was “deeply appalled” by the unions’ decision to picket airport terminals despite ongoing intervention by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN). He said labour had a legitimate right to advocate for workers but questioned the use of airport disruption to pursue the dispute.
Labour Action Raises Legal and Safety Concerns
Onitiju said picketing airport terminals over Ticket Sales Charges (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charges was completely out of order. He argued that enforcement of statutory penalties and recovery of debts owed to regulatory agencies remain the responsibility of government and its authorised institutions.
According to the ASRTI president, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its allies had therefore exceeded their mandate by using airport disruption to pursue regulatory debt issues. He said disputes should be handled through established administrative, legal and corporate channels rather than coercion, intimidation or disruption.
He also cited Section 29 of the Civil Aviation Act, which identifies services supporting safe flight operations, passenger embarkation and cargo handling within aerodromes as essential services. Onitiju said the provision prohibits strikes, lockouts, picketing, blockades and other service disruptions within regulated aviation facilities.
The ASRTI president further referenced Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act. He argued that participating in a strike while a trade dispute remains under official mediation, or before statutory procedures are exhausted, raises serious legal questions.
Onitiju also stressed that trade union membership is voluntary. He said coercing employees or targeting specific companies through disruptive blockades could conflict with constitutional protections surrounding freedom of association.
ASRTI Questions Air Peace Picketing
A major concern raised by ASRTI was the decision to single out Air Peace during the industrial action. Onitiju described the move as selective and questioned its fairness, particularly when the dispute involves broader issues affecting domestic airline operators.
“Premeditatively singling out Air Peace Airline for disruptive picketing shows clear bias from a group that claims to preach fairness,” Onitiju said.
He added that any airline accused of restricting workers from union activities should be approached at its corporate headquarters. According to him, such disputes should not be transferred to sensitive airport environments where passengers, airlines and other businesses can suffer collateral damage.
ASRTI said disruptive labour action has no place in aviation because the sector is heavily regulated and highly sensitive to operational interruptions. Onitiju warned that airport picketing could distress passengers while also sending negative signals to investors and the international aviation community.
The criticism comes after aviation unions began picketing Air Peace over alleged non-remittance of statutory Ticket Sales Charges and Cargo Sales Charges. The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), backed by the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC), is leading the industrial action.
Airlines Suspend Operations as Labour Action Spreads
The immediate impact has extended beyond Air Peace, with airlines adjusting operations because of restrictions at airports. Enugu Air announced that some flights could be rescheduled after labour action affected access to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The airline said union workers were denying staff access to the terminal, forcing airport operations to be temporarily suspended. Enugu Air apologised to passengers and advised travellers to confirm their flight status through its official communication channels before proceeding to the airport.
United Nigeria Airlines also announced a temporary suspension of flight operations. The airline said the decision was taken because of the ongoing industrial action against domestic airlines and stressed that passenger and crew safety remained its priority.
United Nigeria Airlines said it would monitor developments and resume operations once normalcy returned. Affected passengers would be informed of revised schedules and could contact the airline for assistance.
The suspensions demonstrate how the labour action has moved beyond the original dispute and begun affecting passengers and airlines that may not be directly involved in the underlying disagreement.
NCAA Appeals for Restraint
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has also urged the unions to suspend the labour action and exercise restraint. NCAA Director General Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Ona Najomo, said the appeal followed ongoing efforts by Minister Keyamo to resolve the dispute.
The NCAA has assured passengers that flight safety remains uncompromised and that its statutory safety oversight functions continue. It has also urged all parties to return to dialogue and allow the Minister’s mediation process to continue.
ASRTI similarly called for an immediate end to airport blockades and urged labour unions to pursue grievances through appropriate channels. Onitiju said regulatory debt recovery should remain between the relevant authorities and individual carriers.
He urged all parties to return to the negotiating table and allow the mediation framework initiated by Minister Keyamo to run its course. For ASRTI, protecting passengers, preserving aviation safety and restoring investor confidence must take precedence over disruptive industrial action.
The developing dispute therefore places pressure on both labour and airline stakeholders to find a resolution. Until that happens, further operational consequences could emerge across Nigeria’s aviation network.
