Aviation unions have suspended their picketing of Air Peace after intervention by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, easing an industrial dispute that disrupted domestic flight operations and left passengers stranded at major Nigerian airports.
The intervention has, however, shifted rather than ended the dispute. The government has ordered the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other aviation agencies to work with affected airlines on repayment plans for outstanding statutory charges, while the contentious issue of workers’ unionisation remains subject to further implementation.
The crisis centres partly on the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), a statutory charge collected through airline ticket sales and payable to aviation agencies. Aviation unions have accused airlines of failing to remit outstanding obligations, while Air Peace has disputed claims that it owes as much as N25 billion and said it has been complying with NCAA directives on applicable TSC payments.
At an emergency meeting convened by Keyamo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, aviation agencies were directed to obtain payment schedules from airlines. The Directors of Finance and Accounts of the agencies are expected to meet individual airlines and agree realistic repayment plans within one week, taking into account operating costs and prevailing economic conditions.
The resolution also addresses a second major source of tension: unionisation. Keyamo affirmed that workers have the right to decide independently whether to join a trade union. The NCAA was directed to give aviation unions direct access to workers across airlines to distribute membership forms. Airlines that obstruct the process face possible sanctions from the regulator.
The industrial action on August 11 disrupted Air Peace operations in Lagos and Abuja, while other carriers, including United Nigeria Airlines and Enugu Air, also experienced operational disruptions. Air Peace subsequently said the episode caused it more than N2 billion in financial losses. That figure is the airline’s own estimate and has not been independently established.
The unions’ suspension of picketing reduces the immediate risk of further disruption to passengers and airline schedules. But the underlying financial dispute remains unresolved until repayment terms are agreed, while the unionisation question will ultimately depend on how freely workers are able to make their choices.
The parties are expected to reconvene after one month to assess implementation of the resolutions.
For Nigeria’s aviation industry, the episode highlights the delicate balance between airlines’ financial pressures, the funding needs of aviation agencies and workers’ labour rights. A breakdown in the latest agreement could reopen the risk of industrial action and further pressure an already cost-intensive sector.
