By Anthony Otaru, Abuja
Flight operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, were disrupted on Tuesday as aviation unions intensified their industrial action over disputes with airline operators, even as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) assured travellers that airport operations nationwide remained safe, secure and functional.
The industrial action prevented some airline workers from accessing the Abuja airport terminal, forcing affected carriers to suspend or adjust operations and leaving passengers facing uncertainty over their scheduled flights.
Enugu Air, in a passenger advisory, confirmed that its Abuja operations had been temporarily suspended as a result of the action.
“Due to an ongoing industrial action at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where union workers are denying staff access into the airport terminal, operations at the airport have been temporarily suspended,” the airline said.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, also confirmed the disruption and appealed to the unions to suspend the action pending the return of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The regulator said Keyamo had been working to resolve the dispute, adding that an earlier meeting convened by the minister failed to hold after airline operators did not attend.
The NCAA expressed concern over the effect of the industrial action on passengers and aviation stakeholders but maintained that flight safety had not been compromised.
The dispute centres on the statutory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, TSC, which aviation unions insist airline operators must remit as required.
The National Union of Air Transport Employees and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria had earlier issued an ultimatum to affected airlines over outstanding remittances.
The unions subsequently issued a seven-day notice threatening further industrial action against airlines accused of defaulting on the statutory payments.
The confrontation follows an earlier regulatory dispute over outstanding statutory charges.
In May, the NCAA placed 11 domestic airlines on its “No-Pay-No-Service” list over unpaid statutory obligations, including Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge. The directive was subsequently suspended.
Against the backdrop of the disruption, FAAN urged passengers not to panic, saying it was monitoring developments and working with aviation agencies, airlines, security agencies and other stakeholders to limit the impact of the industrial action.
The authority said it recognised the legitimate role of organised labour while supporting efforts by Keyamo and other stakeholders to resolve the dispute.
FAAN also disclosed that earlier operational challenges affecting the movement of some flights within the airside environment had been addressed through inter-agency coordination.
“FAAN remains committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s airports remain safe, secure, functional and accessible to passengers and other airport users,” the authority said.
It advised travellers to maintain contact with their airlines for real-time information on flight schedules and possible changes.
FAAN expressed confidence that ongoing discussions under the leadership of the aviation minister would produce a speedy and mutually acceptable resolution.
The latest disruption has again exposed the vulnerability of Nigeria’s aviation system to prolonged industrial disputes, with passengers bearing the immediate consequences whenever disagreements between unions, airlines and regulatory authorities escalate.
While FAAN maintained that airports nationwide remained operational, the disruption at Abuja, one of the country’s major aviation gateways, demonstrated the potential for labour disputes to affect flight schedules and passenger movement.
The authority appealed for patience from travellers as stakeholders continued efforts to resolve the dispute and restore normalcy to affected operations.
