NCAA asks aviation unions to stop strike against Air Peace

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has asked aviation unions to pause their ongoing strike against Air Peace. They believe the issue should be settled through talks as the strike is affecting flight operations and causing problems for passengers.

The NCAA made this appeal in a statement released on Tuesday by its Director-General, Chris Najomo. This comes as aviation unions picket Air Peace operations at the Lagos and Abuja airports.

The unions claim the airline is making it hard for workers to join trade unions freely. They also allege that Air Peace is not giving back the five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) collected from passengers.

The strike has impacted Air Peace flights. The airline reported that the entrances to its terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, including Alpha and Zulu terminals, and Terminal 2 in Lagos, as well as Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, have been blocked.

Air Peace stated that this blockade has limited access to the terminals and stopped scheduled flights from leaving Lagos and Abuja. They apologised to affected passengers and said they were reaching out to those scheduled to travel later in the day with updates as the situation changes.

Air Peace assured that they are watching the situation closely and will provide more updates.

Reasons for the protests

The industrial action involves the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE). The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are supporting the action.

The unions highlight two main issues: restrictions on workers’ rights to unionise and the alleged failure to remit the five percent TSC. Some airline workers are scared to show interest in joining trade unions due to fears of discrimination or victimisation.

The unions claim airlines have collected the five percent charge from passengers but have not sent the money to the NCAA. They say this has impacted the implementation of negotiated agreements and the working conditions of workers in aviation.

Earlier, the unions had given warnings about possible strikes due to domestic airlines not addressing these issues. They state they allowed airlines several weeks to sort out the problems before taking this latest action.

The unions want guarantees from airlines that workers can join unions of their choice without fear of being targeted. They also demand the immediate return of the five percent TSC that they say has been collected but not sent to the NCAA.

This charge is a legal funding source shared among aviation agencies and is part of a larger argument over how aviation money should be shared. The unions argue that not returning the funds affects the ability of aviation agencies to uphold agreed working conditions and could lead to worker dissatisfaction.

NCAA's response

Mr Najomo mentioned that the NCAA is aware of the strike and its effects on passengers and other aviation stakeholders. He urged the unions to be patient until the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, returns. According to the NCAA, he has been actively trying to resolve the conflict.

The NCAA noted that a meeting organized by Mr Keyamo last week might have helped address the issues, but it could not take place because airline operators did not attend. The regulator encouraged everyone involved to focus on dialogue and cooperation, expressing hope that the conflict would be resolved quickly and normal flight operations would return.

The NCAA also assured passengers that flight safety is still a priority and that they are continuing their safety oversight duties. They expressed regret for the trouble caused to passengers and thanked them for their patience and understanding.

This situation has put passengers in the middle of a fight that goes beyond just talks between airlines, workers, and aviation agencies. Airport access and scheduled flights are now directly affected. Air Peace said the disruption is due to things outside their control and apologised to passengers caught up in the strike. They added that they are contacting passengers scheduled to travel later and will keep giving updates as things change.