A fresh industrial dispute is brewing in Nigeria’s aviation sector as aviation workers have issued a seven-day ultimatum to airline operators and other organisations owing statutory Ticket Sales Charges (TSC), warning that failure to settle the outstanding debts will trigger nationwide picketing.
The ultimatum was jointly issued by the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) after an earlier 14-day notice, served on July 8, expired on July 23 without compliance from the affected operators.
The dispute centres on the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, a statutory levy deducted from every airline ticket sold in Nigeria.
The funds are meant to be remitted to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and shared among other aviation agencies to support their operations and financial obligations.
Although airline operators had previously collected and remitted the charges on behalf of the aviation authorities, the Airline Operators of Nigeria recently announced it would no longer continue the arrangement.
In a strongly worded statement signed by ATSSSAN General Secretary, Frances Akinjole, and NUATE Deputy General Secretary, Odinaka Igbokwe, the unions condemned what they described as the “wilful non-compliance” of airlines and other TSC defaulters.
According to the unions, the failure to remit the statutory charges has deprived aviation agencies of critical funding needed to maintain safe and efficient operations while also affecting the welfare and conditions of service of aviation workers.
“Our earlier 14-day ultimatum has expired, and regrettably, wilful non-compliance has been recorded,” the statement read.
“The aviation agencies remain starved of the required funds to keep our skies safe, while the conditions of service of our members in the various agencies continue to be jeopardised because of the non-remittance of the Ticket Sales Charge.”
The unions warned that the prolonged withholding of the funds poses a significant safety and security risk, arguing that inadequate funding has weakened the operational capacity of aviation agencies and demoralised personnel responsible for safeguarding Nigeria’s airspace.
Describing the situation as unacceptable, the workers announced a final seven-day ultimatum for all defaulting airline operators and other indebted organisations to clear the outstanding debts.
“We can no longer fold our hands while the safety of our airspace remains compromised,” the unions said.
“We hereby issue a seven-day notice to every TSC defaulter to remit the total debt owed to the agencies. Failure to do so will result in our unions taking concrete actions at their various premises.”
The development raises the prospect of industrial action that could disrupt aviation activities across the country if the outstanding obligations are not settled within the stipulated period.
