Labour Unions Ground Air Peace Flights in Lagos, Abuja

Aviation labour unions on Tuesday grounded operations of Air Peace in Lagos and Abuja, leaving scores of passengers stranded at the affected airports.

The industrial action was led by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), with the support of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The unions commenced the picketing in the early hours of Tuesday over allegations that Air Peace had restricted some of its workers from freely joining trade unions and failed to remit a five per cent ticket sales charge owed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The action disrupted scheduled flights and prevented passengers from accessing departure terminals at the affected airports.

The unions had, on August 4, issued a notice of picketing, warning that they could commence industrial action “at any time without further notice” if their grievances were not resolved.

Explaining Tuesday’s action, the unions said they had exercised considerable restraint and allowed the airline several weeks to address the issues through dialogue.

They alleged that workers in some domestic airlines were reluctant to express interest in union membership because of fears of discrimination and victimisation.

According to the unions, repeated efforts to secure workers’ right to freedom of association had not yielded the desired results.

The unions also accused domestic airlines, through the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), of withholding the five per cent ticket sales charge meant to fund the operations of aviation agencies.

They said the failure to remit the funds had affected the implementation of negotiated collective bargaining agreements and the conditions of service of workers in the aviation sector.

In a statement announcing the industrial action, the unions demanded that affected airlines issue clear directives affirming workers’ right to join unions without fear of victimisation.

“We want unequivocal declarations through circulars and other direct means of communication to their staff that they are free to join unions of their choices without fear of victimisation,” the unions said.

They also demanded the immediate remittance of the withheld funds.

“We want an immediate remittance of the seized operational funds of the aviation agencies to allow for the implementation of the conditions of service of our members in the various aviation agencies,” they said.

The unions described the withholding of the funds as a serious concern, warning that continued dissatisfaction among aviation workers could have far-reaching consequences for the industry.

As of the time of filing this report, Air Peace had not publicly responded to the allegations by the unions.

 NCAA Appeals for Restraint

Reacting to the disruption, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) appealed to the unions to sheathe their swords and exercise restraint pending the return of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who has been working to resolve the dispute.

In a statement signed by the Director General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, the NCAA said the issues could have been addressed at a meeting convened by the minister the previous week.

However, the authority said the meeting could not hold because airline operators failed to honour the invitation.

The NCAA assured passengers that flight safety had not been compromised and that it continued to discharge its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.

“We appeal to all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation. We are confident that the matter will be resolved shortly and normal flight operations will resume as soon as practicable,” the authority said.

United Nigeria Airlines Suspends Operations

Meanwhile, United Nigeria Airlines announced a temporary suspension of its flight operations, citing the industrial action by the aviation labour unions.

The airline said the decision was taken to protect the safety of its passengers and crew.

“Rather than compromise on safety, we have chosen to pause operations until normalcy is restored,” the airline said.

It apologised to passengers for the inconvenience and said it was closely monitoring developments.

United Nigeria Airlines added that affected passengers would be informed of revised flight schedules and advised to contact its customer care team for further assistance.

Air Peace Confirms Flight Disruption

Air Peace also confirmed that its flight operations had been temporarily disrupted following the picketing and blockade of its terminals in Lagos and Abuja.

The airline said the industrial action resulted in the barricading of entrances to its departure terminals at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, including the Alpha and Zulu terminals, Terminal 2 in Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport terminal in Abuja.

According to the airline, the blockade restricted access to the terminals and prevented scheduled flights from departing Lagos and Abuja, significantly affecting passengers travelling across its network.

“Air Peace sincerely apologises to all affected and stranded passengers for the disruption and inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond the airline’s control,” the airline said.

It added that passengers scheduled to travel later in the day were being contacted and provided with updates as the situation developed.

The airline said it would continue to monitor the situation and provide further information as necessary, while thanking passengers for their patience and understanding.

The industrial action is expected to continue affecting flight schedules and operations in Lagos and Abuja until the dispute between the unions, airlines and relevant government agencies is resolved.

TUC Backs Aviation Strike, Demands Urgent Action on Insecurity

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has backed the ongoing strike by aviation workers, warning employers against victimising workers for joining trade unions.

TUC President, Festus Osifo, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during a briefing on the state of the nation, saying the Congress would resist any attempt to deny workers their right to unionise.

The TUC also urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity, particularly in farming communities, to enable farmers to return to their farms and boost food production.

While noting signs of stabilisation in the microeconomy, the Congress expressed concern over the broader macroeconomic situation, with Osifo describing the naira as undervalued and warning of its impact on the cost of living.

The union further called for the fast-tracking of legislation on state police and greater use of technology to combat insecurity.

On the energy sector, the TUC opposed the outright sale of government-owned refineries, urging proper management of the government’s equity in the facilities.

The Congress also raised concerns over the remittance of the five per cent charge and workers’ welfare, while commending the government for the recent salary increase for military personnel.