Unions threaten airlines with picketing over unpaid ticket charges

Nigeria’s aviation sector may face fresh industrial unrest as two major aviation unions have threatened to begin picketing airlines accused of failing to remit billions of naira in statutory Ticket Sales Charges (TSC), warning that the action could commence at any time.

The threat follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the affected airlines on August 3, after an earlier 14-day notice failed to yield any resolution.

The warning was contained in a joint statement signed by the General Secretary of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Frances Akinjole, and the Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Odinaka Igbokwe.

According to the unions, the airlines have continued to collect statutory levies from passengers on behalf of government aviation agencies without remitting the funds as required by law.

However, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) dismissed the unions’ position, saying it has no transactional relationship with them and warning that any attempt to disrupt airline operations would have serious consequences.

The operators said they would ordinarily ignore what they described as “misinformed threats,” but decided to respond because of growing concerns among passengers over the possibility of disruptions to scheduled flights.

The Ticket Sales Charges are deducted from passengers’ airfares to fund key aviation agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

The unions argued that the failure to remit the funds threatens aviation safety oversight, air navigation services, accident investigations, weather forecasting, manpower development and other critical functions within the industry.

They said all efforts to resolve the matter through dialogue had failed, insisting that the issue extends beyond financial obligations to the safety of the aviation sector and the welfare of workers.

“The expiration of the seven-day ultimatum, coming after the earlier 14-day notice, has shown that these airlines are deliberately refusing to do what is right. They collected this money from passengers on behalf of government aviation agencies, yet they have chosen to withhold it despite repeated appeals,” the statement said.

Describing the development as unacceptable, the unions maintained that airlines that fail to comply with statutory remittance obligations should not be allowed to continue operations alongside compliant carriers.

They warned that they were prepared to shut down the operations of defaulting airlines across airports nationwide without further notice.

“It is now established that these airlines are unfit to remain in our skies while responsible and patriotic operators continue to meet their obligations.

“In safeguarding the interests of airport workers and, more importantly, the safety of the flying public, our unions have decided to stop the operations of these defaulting airlines in our airports anytime from now, without any further notice,” the statement added.

The unions stressed that the planned action was aimed at protecting the travelling public by ensuring funds meant to support Nigeria’s aviation regulatory and safety infrastructure are remitted promptly.