ARTI says labour dispute over aviation charges should not disrupt airport operations or inconvenience passengers…..
The Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ARTI) has condemned the industrial action and picketing carried out by labour unions at airport terminals, describing the disruption as inappropriate and potentially damaging to Nigeria’s aviation sector.
In a statement issued on August 11, 2026, the group said the action was particularly concerning because it occurred while the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development was already intervening in the dispute.
ARTI said while it recognised the right of workers and unions to pursue legitimate welfare concerns, the use of airport terminals to protest the non-remittance of Ticket Sales Charges and Cargo Sales Charges to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was unacceptable.
The aviation advocacy group argued that the enforcement of statutory penalties and recovery of debts owed to government regulatory agencies were matters for the Federal Government and the relevant institutions, rather than labour unions.
According to ART, the unions should pursue their grievances through established dispute-resolution mechanisms instead of using picketing and disruption to pressure airlines or other stakeholders.
“The rules of engagement and understanding of issues must drive how unions fight or advocate for a cause, not through the use of coercion, intimidation, or disruption,” the group said.
ARTI further argued that disrupting airport operations could conflict with provisions of Nigerian law governing essential aviation services.
It cited Section 29 of the Civil Aviation Act, which it said designates services connected with safe flight operations, passenger embarkation and cargo handling at aerodromes as essential services.
The group maintained that the provision restricts strikes, lockouts, picketing, blockades and other forms of disruption within regulated aviation facilities.
ARTI also referred to Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act, arguing that participating in industrial action while a trade dispute is undergoing official mediation or before the relevant statutory dispute-resolution procedures have been exhausted is unlawful.
The organisation said these provisions were particularly important in aviation because disruptions at airports can affect thousands of passengers and businesses beyond the parties directly involved in a dispute.
Group warns of wider impact on passengers and investors
ARTI said it opposed the use of airport terminals and their immediate surroundings as venues for labour disputes, warning that such actions could have consequences far beyond the airlines or workers involved.
The group said passengers who have already paid for flights should not be made to bear the consequences of disputes between unions, airlines and regulatory authorities.
It also warned that repeated disruptions could send negative signals to international investors and undermine confidence in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
“Travel disruptions are not only distressing for passengers who have paid for the services but send negative signals about Nigerian aviation to potential investors and the international community,” the group said.
ARTI also criticised what it described as threats by labour unions to picket airlines over outstanding Ticket Sales Charges and Cargo Sales Charges, as well as airlines allegedly preventing employees from participating in union activities.
The organisation described the approach as excessive and argued that disputes involving an airline’s internal administration or relations with its employees should be addressed at the company’s corporate offices or through appropriate legal channels.
Air Peace singled out
The aviation group also questioned the decision to specifically target Air Peace, describing the move as evidence of what it called an unfair approach to the dispute.
“Premeditatively singling out Air Peace Airline for disruptive picketing shows clear bias from a group that claims to preach fairness,” ARTI said.
The organisation maintained that any allegations involving an airline’s treatment of unionised employees should be addressed through the appropriate corporate and legal mechanisms rather than by disrupting operations at airports.
Calls for return to negotiation
ARTI urged all parties involved in the dispute to return to the negotiating table and allow the mediation process initiated by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development to continue.
The group called on labour unions to immediately stop blockades and other disruptions at airport terminals, particularly where such actions could affect passengers, other airlines and unrelated businesses operating within airport facilities.
It also urged parties to separate regulatory debt recovery from labour disputes.
According to ARTI, outstanding regulatory charges should be pursued directly between the relevant regulatory authority and the affected airlines through established administrative and legal procedures.
This, it said, would prevent passengers and other operators from becoming collateral victims of disputes over regulatory obligations.
The group stressed that maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s airspace and protecting passengers should remain the priority.
It urged the unions to exercise restraint and pursue their grievances through due process rather than resorting to what it described as disruptive “self-help”.
ARTI said a negotiated resolution would provide a better path toward protecting workers’ interests while preserving the stability and reputation of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
