Aviation unions slam Air Peace, AON over picketing fallout, deny

Aviation trade unions in Nigeria have fired back at the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and Air Peace following recent criticisms over the August 11 industrial action, declaring that domestic airlines, not the unions, committed severe security infractions by deliberately blocking airport taxiways.

Leading the charge in a joint press statement issued on October 8, 2026, the unions condemned what they termed a mischievous attempt by airline operators to vilify organised labour and scapegoat them as aggressors instead of victims defending basic constitutional rights.

The unions, comprising the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), flatly rejected claims that picketing constitutes “unlawful interference” under International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

According to the labour bodies, picketing and strike actions are lawful mechanisms protected under Nigerian labour laws, the 1999 Constitution, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions. They emphasised that ICAO Annex 17 provisions on unlawful interference were misapplied by the AON, noting that lawful industrial actions or regulatory groundings do not equate to illegal acts of sabotage.

Instead, the unions pointed to actions taken by Air Peace management during the dispute, alleging that the airline coordinated five branded buses to block the aircraft taxiway and manoeuvring area at the Lagos aerodrome, maintaining that this act severely endangered the safety and security of the entire airport and constituted a true violation of international aviation safety codes.

Addressing the root causes of the August 11 action, the unions cited the refusal of private domestic carriers to allow their personnel to join trade unions under threat of dismissal, as well as the failure of airlines to remit collected Ticket Service Charges (TSC) to regulatory and service agencies.

They asserted that non-remittance of these statutory fees has crippled agency operations, hindered equipment maintenance, and blocked the implementation of negotiated conditions of service for aviation workers.

Responding to calls by the AON to classify all airline services as essential and prohibit strike actions, the unions cited existing judicial precedents and ILO guidelines to refute the claim, noting that court decisions have established that general commercial airline operations do not qualify as essential services beyond specific air traffic control functions, placing commercial flights in the same category as ground transport providers.

The labour groups further clarified that past picketing exercises have consistently prioritised the safety and integrity of airport infrastructure and dismissed social media reports accusing union members of violence, attributing the clashes to provocations and physical assaults by airline personnel against peaceful labour representatives.

On recent court judgments obtained by individual workers seeking to opt out of union membership, the trade unions stated they never opposed such prayers, as labour laws already guarantee voluntary membership. The unions stressed that individual court cases do not exempt airline managements from their broader statutory obligations to recognise union representation for willing employees.

Expressing dismay over the AON’s threat to shut down operations if picketed again, the unions described the posture as counterproductive and averse to constructive dialogue, urging domestic carriers to emulate operators like Aero Contractors, Bristow Helicopters, Arik Air, and Caverton Helicopters by fostering collaborative industrial relations.

They reaffirmed their readiness for peaceful resolution; the unions called for wise counsel to prevail to safeguard industrial harmony across the nation’s aviation sector.

The statement was jointly issued by Comrade Igene Paul, General Secretary of NUATE; Comrade Frances Akinjole, General Secretary of ATSSSAN; Comrade Ocheme Aba, Deputy Secretary General of ANAP; and Comrade Umoh Ofonime, Deputy General Secretary of NAAPE.