Nigeria’s aviation industry is heading towards another labour crisis after workers issued a seven-day ultimatum to airlines and other organisations accused of withholding statutory Ticket Sales Charges and warned that failure to clear the outstanding debts will trigger coordinated picketing nationwide.
The warning came from the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), which accused defaulting operators of depriving aviation agencies of funds needed to sustain regulatory oversight, safety operations, and workers’ welfare.
The unions announced the ultimatum after an earlier 14-day notice expired without meaningful compliance from the affected operators, according to them.
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The dispute centres on the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, a statutory levy deducted from every airline ticket sold in Nigeria. The money is collected on behalf of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and distributed among key aviation agencies to fund regulatory activities, infrastructure, safety oversight, and operational obligations.
In a joint statement signed by ATSSSAN General Secretary, Frances Akinjole, and NUATE Deputy General Secretary, Odinaka Igbokwe, the unions established that continued non-remittance had weakened the financial capacity of agencies responsible for keeping Nigeria’s airspace safe.
The labour groups warned that the funding gap was no longer merely an administrative issue but one capable of affecting aviation safety if left unresolved.
They maintained that prolonged delays in releasing the statutory deductions had also affected employees’ conditions of service, and that poor staff welfare could undermine morale in an industry where safety depends heavily on efficient regulatory oversight and operational discipline.
The unions said: “We can no longer helplessly fold our hands and allow the safety of our airspace to remain compromised.”
They added that any organisation that failed to settle its obligations within seven days would face industrial action at its business premises.
The dispute has lingered for months despite efforts to reach a settlement.
Recall, airline operators have recently met officials of the NCAA and proposed a phased repayment plan, beginning with an initial 10 per cent payment while the balance would be spread over an agreed period.
Whether that arrangement satisfies the unions is still uncertain.
The disagreement comes at a delicate period for Nigeria’s aviation industry where operators continue to grapple with high operating costs, foreign exchange pressures, rising aviation fuel prices, and mounting financial obligations.
And as for regulators, however, the issue extends beyond airline finances. The agencies rely heavily on internally generated revenue such as the Ticket Sales Charge to carry out inspections, certify operators, maintain safety standards, and finance day-to-day operations.
Meanwhile any disruption to those activities could have wider implications for the sector.
If no agreement is reached before the deadline expires, passengers could face disruptions at airports across the country as aviation workers now move to enforce their threat, potentially opening another chapter in the long-running battle over how Nigeria’s aviation industry is funded.
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