Aviation unions on Tuesday grounded Air Peace flight operations in Lagos and Abuja, stranding scores of passengers at both airports.
The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), backed by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), began picketing the airline around 5am, barricading terminal entrances at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The unions said the action targets alleged anti-union practices by domestic airlines and the non-remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) owed to aviation regulatory agencies, reportedly amounting to N25 billion. They accused affected airlines of frustrating efforts by workers to unionise.
The unions had earlier issued a notice of picketing on August 4, warning they were prepared to strike “at any time without further notice.” Announcing Tuesday’s action, they described it as a final act of restraint, having granted defaulting airlines a three-day notice before the shutdown.
In Lagos, the Zulu and Alpha terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, as well as Terminal 2, were barricaded, blocking passengers from accessing departure gates. The Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja was similarly affected.
Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest domestic carrier, confirmed the disruption, saying entrances to its departure terminals had been blocked, preventing scheduled flights from departing. The airline apologised to affected passengers, describing the situation as beyond its control, and said it was contacting travellers booked for later flights with updates. United Nigeria also suspended some of its flights amid the disruption.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed no domestic flights were departing from either airport at the height of the action. NCAA Director-General, Captain Chris Najomo, appealed to the unions to suspend the industrial action and return to the negotiating table, noting that Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo was working to resolve the dispute.
More than 70 Air Peace flights were reported disrupted across the two airports.
Passengers with tickets on affected airlines have been advised to confirm their flight status before heading to the airports, as the situation remains fluid.
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