Nigeria and West Africa’s leading airline, Air Peace has called on the Federal Government and relevant security and aviation authorities to investigate the violence and disruption during Monday’s industrial action at Nigerian airports, which the airline says caused more than ₦2 billion in financial losses.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Nigeria and West Africa’s leading airline, Air Peace has called on the Federal Government and relevant security and aviation authorities to investigate the violence and disruption during Monday’s industrial action at Nigerian airports, which the airline says caused more than ₦2 billion in financial losses.
The airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, made the call on Tuesday at a media parley in Lagos, following the industrial action embarked upon by aviation unions on August 11.
According to reports by Arise Television News, Olajide said the unions had cited two major grievances for the picketing: the 5% Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) indebtedness by airlines to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the alleged failure of airlines to unionise their employees.
She, however, questioned why Air Peace was singled out for what she described as violent and disruptive action if the TSC issue was industry-wide.
“On the 5% TSC, the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has publicly stated that the airlines, and not Air Peace alone, are complying with the directives of the NCAA regarding the applicable payment.”
She added: “This therefore raises a fundamental question: if the issue is industry-wide, why was Air Peace singled out for violent and disruptive picketing?”
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On unionisation, Olajide said more than 98 per cent of Nigerian airlines do not have unions, adding that Air Peace employees had voluntarily chosen not to belong to any union.
“The staff of Air Peace have made it abundantly clear that they do not wish to form any union within Air Peace. This is within their constitutional rights. Air Peace did not stop them. They chose that path.”
The COO also questioned why union members allegedly encouraged passengers to boycott Air Peace in favour of other airlines.
“It is quite disturbing and curious that the same union members were seen in the videos urging passengers and the flying public not to be flying Air Peace again but the other airlines, the same other airlines that are owing debts to NCAA and the same airlines that are also not unionised.”
She urged the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged selective targeting of Air Peace.
Olajide said some Air Peace employees were physically assaulted while exercising what she described as their constitutional rights, alleging that a female employee was left bleeding and bruised.
“Yesterday, some of our employees were physically assaulted while peacefully expressing that choice, including a female employee who was left bleeding and bruised.”
She questioned the rationale behind defending workers’ rights through violence against workers who had chosen not to unionise.
“How can workers’ rights be defended by violently attacking workers exercising their own constitutional rights?”
The airline also raised concerns over airport security, questioning how individuals were able to gain access to and disrupt operations within what it described as a highly controlled environment.
“Airports are sensitive national assets, and such violence should never be allowed to occur with impunity.”
According to the airline, the incident has also raised concerns among its international partners and aircraft lessors over confidence in Nigeria’s aviation business environment.
Olajide further described the industrial action as a violation of existing laws and a subsisting judgement of the Federal High Court obtained on April 26, 2024, by Air Peace employees against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), NUATE, the Inspector-General of Police and other unions.
She said the judgement declared unlawful any attempt by the unions to coerce Air Peace employees into membership against their will.
“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 Limited, 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.”
Olajide said the court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the unions from harassing Air Peace employees or causing or instigating breaches of the peace capable of endangering the lives and property of the airline and its employees.
She added that the court directed the police to ensure compliance with the judgement nationwide.
According to Air Peace, Monday’s disruption caused significant financial losses estimated at more than ₦2 billion, while thousands of passengers had their journeys disrupted.
“Our passengers equally have constitutional rights, including the right to travel without unlawful interference.”
The airline said it had consistently supported Nigerians during difficult periods and contributed to the development of the country’s aviation sector.
Olajide described the disruption as particularly unfortunate given the airline’s contribution to the country.
“It is therefore unfortunate that an airline that has repeatedly stood with the nation should be subjected to such indiscriminate disruption.”
The COO also alleged that the action constituted an “act of unlawful interference” under applicable International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR) security provisions.
“This appalling disruptive activity by the union members simply violated ICAO & NCAR Security regulation which, in simple terms, is an ‘act of unlawful interference’ and is punishable under extant aviation regulations.”
She further warned that union members involved in the alleged disruption could face consequences, including restrictions on flying or arrest abroad, if the matter is appropriately pursued.
Olajide called on the Federal Government, security agencies, airport authorities and aviation regulators to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the incident.
She said Air Peace had video evidence and other information that could assist authorities in identifying those allegedly responsible for the violence and disruption.
“Our position is therefore unequivocal: our employees have the constitutional right to choose, our passengers have the constitutional right to travel, and Air Peace has the right to operate without unlawful interference.”
She stressed that the dispute was not about opposition to organised labour but about protecting constitutional rights, employee safety, passenger welfare and the rule of law.
“This is not about being anti-union. It is about constitutional rights, freedom of choice, employee safety, passenger welfare and the rule of law.”
Olajide warned that Nigeria’s aviation industry could not afford to allow the incident to set a precedent. “Nigeria’s aviation industry is too important to allow such an incident to become a precedent”, she remarked.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had earlier in the week, disrupted flight operations in Lagos and Abuja, leaving passengers stranded. Among the affected were passengers scheduled to travel on an Air Peace flight. Due to the protest, Air Peace flight, scheduled to depart Lagos at 6:30am, could not take off as passengers waited amid the disruption. The development sparked frustration among passengers, some of whom lamented the uncertainty surrounding their travel plans.
Reacting to the development, Air Peace management, apologised to all affected and stranded passengers for the disruption and inconvenience, stressing that the development was caused by circumstances beyond the airline’s control.
