The lingering industrial dispute between aviation unions and Air Peace yesterday took a new turn as the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) said that its officials would appear before the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday over the recent disruption of flight operations.
Apart from ATSSSAN, The Guardian learnt that other union – National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has also received the same invitation letter from the police.

The two leading unions had on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, grounded the operations of some airlines, including Air Peace, over the alleged debts owed aviation agencies and the alleged refusal of the management to allow their staff to join labour unions of their choice.
A statement yesterday by the General Secretary, ATSSSAN, Frances Akinjole, said that the invitation followed complaints allegedly lodged by Air Peace over the recent picketing exercise.
According to him, the invitation was issued by the Nigeria Police Headquarters, Abuja, with the union expected to appear at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.

The allegations listed in the police invitation, according to him, included conspiracy, threatening violence, inciting disturbance of public peace, assault occasioning harm and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
The union, however, described the invitation as an attempt at “reckless intimidation” by the airline, insisting that the August 11 picketing was a lawful industrial action.
He also emphasised that the union had resolved to honour the invitation and would be accompanied by a sizeable number of its officers and members to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the picketing were properly presented to the police.

ATSSSAN cautioned that should its officials be detained by the police for longer than necessary, it might be unable to guarantee the continuation of air services at airports across the country.
He said: “We have decided to honour the invitation together with a sizable number of our officers and members, principally in order to enable us to put the occurrence in the correct perspective and to dare the intimidation by Air Peace.
“However, if we are held by the Police for a time longer than necessary, we may no longer be able to guarantee continuation of air operations in the various airports across the country immediately.”
The August 11 disruption prompted the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who summoned aviation stakeholders to an emergency meeting to prevent a recurrence.
Akinjole, however, assured the police of utmost cooperate, noting that it was prepared to present its account of the events that occurred during the August 11 picketing.