Lagos, Abuja Airports Face Flight Disruptions as Aviation Unions Picket Airlines

By Admin, Lagos

Flight operations have been disrupted at the Lagos and Abuja airports on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, as aviation unions commenced picketing of domestic airline operators over alleged violations of workers’ rights and failure to remit the statutory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).

The industrial action was led by the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), with the backing of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The development left scores of passengers stranded as several flight operations were affected from the early hours of the day.

ATSSSAN National President, Comrade John Ogbe, said the action became necessary following the expiration of several ultimatums issued to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).

According to Ogbe, the unions had previously issued 14-day, seven-day and three-day ultimatums to the airline operators over their demands, but the issues remained unresolved.

He also alleged that a meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development failed to produce an agreement because the airline operators did not adequately address the concerns raised by the unions.

Ogbe warned that the picketing could continue and potentially spread to other airports across the country if the dispute is not resolved.

The disruption has raised concerns among air travellers, particularly those scheduled to fly through Lagos and Abuja, as the unions push for compliance with their demands.

However, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has appealed to the unions to suspend the industrial action and return to the negotiating table.

In a statement signed by its Director General, Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Ona Najomo, the NCAA called for calm and assured passengers that aviation safety had not been compromised by the industrial action.

The Authority stressed that it would continue to discharge its statutory safety oversight responsibilities despite the disruption to flight operations.

The NCAA further expressed confidence that dialogue between the affected parties would lead to a resolution of the dispute and the restoration of normal flight operations.

The aviation regulator also apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the industrial action and urged all parties to work towards resolving the issues through negotiation.