Murtala Mohammed International Aiport

Nigeria’s aviation sector may be heading for another round of industrial action, as two major aviation unions have declared they are prepared to commence picketing of airlines accused of withholding billions of naira in statutory Ticket Sales Charges, warning that the action could begin “anytime from now.”

The threat follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the affected airlines on August 3, 2026, after an earlier 14-day notice failed to produce the desired response.

The unions made their latest stance known through a statement on Tuesday, jointly signed by the General Secretary of
Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Frances Akinjole; and the Deputy General Secretary of National Union of Air Transport Employees, Odinaka Igbokwe.

The unions accused the airlines of collecting statutory charges from passengers on behalf of government aviation agencies but failing to remit the funds as required by law.

After the expiration of two warning dates, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, on Monday, said they have no transactional relationship with the unions, warning that any form of picketing of their businesses will have dire consequences.

The operators added that they would ordinarily not respond to what they described as “misinformed threats”, but mounting concerns from passengers over the fate of their travel plans made it necessary to clarify their position.

The Ticket Sales Charges are deducted from every passenger’s airfare to support the operations of critical aviation agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

According to the unions, the persistent refusal by some airlines to remit the funds is threatening the sustainability of aviation safety oversight, air navigation services, accident investigation, weather forecasting, manpower development, and other essential functions that keep Nigeria’s aviation industry running.

The unions said every avenue for dialogue had been exhausted.

The unions maintained that the issue goes beyond financial obligations, insisting that it directly affects aviation safety and the welfare of workers across the industry.

The statement partly reads, “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.

“It has become crystal clear that these airlines have decided to siphon funds meant for the smooth running of Nigeria’s aviation industry to the detriment of our collective safety and well-being.”

Describing the development as unacceptable, the labour groups argued that airlines unwilling to comply with statutory remittance obligations should not continue to operate alongside law-abiding operators.

The unions said they had therefore resolved to take industrial action by shutting down the operations of the affected airlines across Nigerian airports.

“It is now established that these pilfering 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,” they insisted.

The unions, however, held that the planned action is intended to protect, not endanger, the travelling public by ensuring that funds meant to sustain the country’s aviation regulatory and safety infrastructure are remitted promptly.