By Priye Briggs
Nigeria’s biggest airline, Air Peace, says it suffered revenue losses exceeding N2 billion following a protest by aviation unions on Wednesday that disrupted its operations.
The action was carried out after a 3-day ultimatum issued on August 7 by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, to the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON. The unions were demanding payment of the 5 per cent Ticket Sales Charge, TSC, and an end to what they called the refusal by some airlines to allow free unionisation of staff.
With the issues unresolved, the unions, supported by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, went ahead with the picketing. Air Peace’s operations at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja were targeted.
Speaking to journalists at Air Peace’s Lagos headquarters, the airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, said passengers who seek compensation over the disruption will have their claims directed at the unions behind the protest. She also called on the Federal Government, security agencies, airport authorities and aviation regulators to launch a comprehensive and independent investigation.
Her words: “The disruption has caused significant financial damage to Air Peace, estimated at over N2 billion, while thousands of passengers had their journeys disrupted. Our passengers equally have constitutional rights, including the right to travel without unlawful interference.
“Yesterday, some of our employees were physically assaulted while peacefully expressing that choice, including a female employee who was left bleeding and bruised. We ask: how can workers’ rights be defended by violently attacking workers exercising their own constitutional rights?
“The incident also raises serious questions about airport security. How were individuals able to gain access to and disrupt operations within a highly controlled airport environment? Airports are sensitive national assets, and such violence should never be allowed to occur with impunity. The incident has also caused concern among our international partners and aircraft lessors and raises legitimate questions about confidence in Nigeria’s aviation business environment.
“What happened yesterday was a flagrant disrespect and disregard of extant laws and the subsisting judgement of the Federal High Court of Nigeria obtained on April 26, 2024, by the Staff and Employees of Air Peace against the NLC, TUC, NUATE, the Inspector General of Police and all other unions.
“The judgement declared that it is unlawful and unconstitutional for all these unions to threaten the employees of Air Peace through coercion of their employer, Air Peace, whether directly or indirectly, including through their officers, servants/agents, privies or other third parties, or howsoever to seek to impose membership of the unions upon the employees against their will.
“The court also granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the unions from harassing the employees of Air Peace by any means at their places of work or any other place and to refrain from causing or instigating any breach of the peace likely to occasion harm to the staff and employers or any threat to their lives and property of Air Peace.
“The court also ordered the police to ensure compliance with this judgement throughout the federation. This appalling disruptive activity by the union members simply violated International Civil Aviation Regulation, ICAO, & NCAR Security regulation which, in simple terms, is an act of unlawful interference and is punishable under extant aviation regulations.
“The union members involved may be subject to no fly or arrest abroad if the matter is taken up appropriately. They should therefore be advised to watch and never cross the red line again.”
Olajide added that the protest breached both domestic and international aviation security rules and could damage confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector among global partners and lessors.