UPDATED: Aviation Unions Ground Domestic Flights In Lagos, Abuja

Aviation unions in Nigeria halted domestic flight operations in Lagos and Abuja on Tuesday, leaving passengers stranded at affected 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) led the strike, citing alleged anti-union practices by domestic airlines and the non-payment of a five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) owed to aviation agencies.

The protests began around 5am at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, with the Zulu terminal gate reportedly locked. The disruption initially affected Air Peace, Nigeria's largest domestic airline, causing passengers on its flights to wait at the airport. This caused significant frustration among travelers, some of whom expressed concerns about the uncertainty in their travel plans.

One passenger stated that the delay had disrupted his schedule and he was unsure when the flight would depart. Another passenger, who had arrived early for the 6:30am flight, was stranded without clear information on when operations would resume. The aviation unions had taken action following a three-day notice of strike issued to domestic airlines, which they had warned about on August 4, stating they were prepared to commence industrial action at any time.

The unions accused the airlines of obstructing unionization efforts within their organizations and alleged that employees were unwilling to openly express their desire to join unions due to fear of victimization or discrimination. They demanded that airlines provide clear directives affirming employees' rights to join unions without fear of repercussions.

Additionally, the unions accused the airlines of withholding the five percent TSC, which is meant to support the operations of aviation agencies, accusing them of misappropriating funds. They emphasized that the non-payment is undermining the implementation of collective bargaining agreements and could lead to safety concerns. The unions demanded an unequivocal declaration from airline employees that they could join unions of their choice without fear of victimization and the immediate remittance of the withheld TSC to enable aviation agencies to fulfill service conditions.