Thousands of travellers were stranded at Nigeria's major airports on Tuesday after aviation unions shut down operations at several domestic airlines over unresolved labour disputes.
The strike, led by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), saw union members barricade terminal entrances at Lagos's Murtala Muhammed Airport and Abuja's Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport from the early hours.
Air Peace, Enugu Air, and United Nigeria Airlines all suspended or rescheduled flights as a result, citing restricted access to their terminals. The unions say the action follows expired 14 day, 7 day, and 3 day ultimatums given to airlines over alleged anti-union practices, the casualisation of workers, and the non-remittance of over ₦25 billion in statutory Ticket Sales Charges (TSC), a 5% levy collected from passengers that airlines are required to pass on to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
TUC President Festus Osifo confirmed the union's backing for the action at a press briefing in Abuja, demanding the outstanding funds be remitted. The NCAA has appealed to the unions for a peaceful resolution. As of the latest reports, affected airlines were advising passengers to check for rebooking updates before heading to the airport.