…Chaos at Lagos airport as unions picket Air Peace
…Airline owes aviation agencies N15b in TSC – ATSSSAN
…Unions accuse carrier of frustrating workers’ unionization
…Air Peace: Picketing barricaded terminal entrances, disrupted flights
…NCAA calls for truce as passengers stranded

Flight operations were disrupted at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Tuesday following the picketing of Air Peace by aviation unions over alleged non-remittance of statutory charges and workers’ unionisation rights.

The action, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), resulted in passengers being stranded as access to Air Peace’s departure terminals was reportedly blocked.

The unions accused the airline of owing about N15 billion in Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) due to aviation agencies, while also alleging that the carrier had prevented its employees from freely joining trade unions.

Also, a video circulating online showed vehicles positioned on the runway at Lagos airport.

The material could not independently establish from the video alone when or why the equipment was positioned there or whether it was responsible for any disruption to runway operations.

The General Secretary of ATSSSAN, Frances Akinjole, told The Guardian that the unions took the action following the refusal of the management of Air Peace to enter into a discussion with them on how to remit the alleged debt and unionism in the airline.

According to him, the latest action followed an unsuccessful attempt by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to broker a meeting between the unions and airline operators Friday, last week.

According to him, , the unions attended the meeting convened by the minister, but Air Peace subsequently communicated that it would not sit down with the unions.

He said: “The airline has been discouraging other airlines from industrial democracy.

“The airline just committed an act of terrorism. It blocked the runway and parked its vehicles on the runway, which will prevent aircraft from taking off or landing on the runway.

“Our picketing Air Peace is strategic. We have to start with the airline because it’s the major carrier in the country.

“Presently, we are only picketing their Lagos operations alone. We all know that most airlines depart or land in Lagos. So, it’s strategic. I don’t know how many days it will take us to picket the airlines. We will continue with this strategy for now.”

also, the Air Peace said the industrial action had temporarily disrupted its operations in Lagos and Abuja after protesters barricaded entrances to its departure terminals.

In a statement by its Spokesman, Efe Soifo-Whiskey, the airline said the entrances to its departure terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, comprising the Alpha and Zulu terminals, and Terminal 2 in Lagos, as well as its terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, had been blocked.

According to the airline, the blockade restricted access to the terminals and prevented scheduled flights from departing from the two airports.

He said: “The blockade has restricted access to these terminals, preventing the departure of scheduled flights from Lagos and Abuja. Consequently, passengers scheduled to travel across our network have been significantly affected by the disruption to flight operations.

“Air Peace sincerely apologises to all affected and stranded passengers for the disruption and inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond the airline’s control.

“Passengers scheduled to travel later today are being contacted and provided with relevant updates as the situation evolves.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has appealed to the unions to suspend the industrial action and allow dialogue to resolve the dispute.

In a statement issued by its Director-General of Civil Aviation, Chris Najomo, the regulator said it was aware of the industrial action and its impact on passengers and other stakeholders.

The NCAA urged the unions to “sheathe their swords and exercise restraint” pending the return of Keyamo, who, the DGCA, said had been working towards resolving the issues.

According to the authority, the matter would have been addressed at the meeting convened by the minister the previous week, but the meeting could not hold because airline operators failed to honour the invitation.

The NCAA assured passengers that flight safety remained uncompromised and that it was continuing to exercise its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.

Najomo said: “The NCAA assures the travelling public that flight safety remains uncompromised and that the Authority continues to exercise its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.

“We appeal to all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation. We are confident that the matter will be resolved shortly and normal flight operations will resume as soon as practicable.

“The NCAA regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers and appreciates their patience and understanding.”