Chaos in the Skies: Air Peace Flights Grounded as Unions Stage Violent Picket

Flight operations of Air Peace, one of West Africa's largest airlines, were severely disrupted nationwide after aviation unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), picketed the airline's terminals. The industrial action, which commenced early Tuesday, led to the grounding of flights at major hubs such as the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and subsequently across Air Peace’s domestic and regional network.

The disruption caused more than 70 scheduled Air Peace flights to be cancelled, leaving numerous passengers stranded in Lagos, Abuja, and other connecting destinations. An X user, known as YoufoundAlex, described being stranded at Lagos airport, missing a 9:00 a.m. appointment in Abuja due to the protest. The impact was so significant that United Nigeria Airlines also suspended its flight operations in solidarity with the picketed airline.

The unions cited two primary grievances for their industrial action. Firstly, they highlighted outstanding five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) obligations owed by airlines to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). However, the NCAA had already reached payment arrangements with the airlines, which operators claimed were being complied with. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) argued that the dispute over TSC was between operators and the NCAA, asserting that aviation unions had no role in enforcing such payment arrangements. Secondly, the unions pointed to Air Peace’s alleged refusal to allow its employees to join the unions as another key reason for the picketing.

In a significant development, workers of Air Peace publicly dissociated themselves from the ongoing picketing. Through their spokesman, Comrade Aminu Suleiman, the employees stated that the industrial action did not represent their position or interests. They emphasized that membership in a trade union is voluntary, citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Section 12 of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) constitution. The workers asserted that they had no need for unionism, as they enjoy regular salaries, Health Management Organization (HMO) benefits, and a consistent voice in the company's running for the past 12 years, distinguishing their situation from other unionized airlines that faced collapse.

Air Peace confirmed the operational disruption, stating that access to its departure terminals in Lagos (Terminal 1, including Alpha and Zulu terminals, and Terminal 2) and Abuja had been barricaded. The airline sincerely apologized to all affected and stranded passengers, explaining that the disruptions were caused by circumstances beyond its control. The airline also alleged that some of its employees were assaulted and injured during the picketing when they resisted attempts to compel them to join the unions, adding a dimension of forced association to the dispute.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, confirmed the incident, while the Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, appealed to the unions to exercise restraint. Najomo mentioned that the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, had been actively working towards resolving the issues and had convened a meeting the previous week, which airline operators failed to attend. The specific targeting of Air Peace raised questions, given that workers of several other domestic carriers also do not belong to the unions. Efforts are ongoing to resolve the dispute and mitigate further disruption to domestic and regional air travel.