Passengers Stranded as Aviation Unions Picket Airline Operators over TSC Disputes

Scores of passengers were stranded at the Lagos and Abuja airports on Tuesday following the picketing of domestic airline operators by aviation unions over the alleged non-remittance of the statutory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and the denial of workers’ rights to unionise.

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

The protest disrupted flight operations from the early hours of the day, leaving many passengers unable to board scheduled flights.

ATSSSAN National President, Comrade John Ogbe, said the action followed the expiration of 14-day, seven-day and three-day ultimatums earlier issued to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).

According to him, a meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development ended without a resolution after airline operators allegedly failed to address the unions’ demands.

Ogbe warned that the picketing would continue and could spread to more airports nationwide if the issues remain unresolved.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has appealed to the unions to suspend the industrial action and return to the negotiating table.

In a statement signed by the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Ona Najomo, the Authority assured passengers that flight safety remains uncompromised despite the disruption, stressing that it continues to carry out its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.

The NCAA expressed confidence that dialogue would lead to a resolution of the dispute and help restore normal flight operations as soon as possible, while also regretting the inconvenience caused to passengers.