Nigeria Airlines Disrupted

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has intervened in a dispute between airlines and labour unions, temporarily suspending the industrial action that disrupted flights and stranded passengers at airports in Lagos and Abuja. The labour unions, including the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), had issued a three-day notice of strike against airlines deemed to be indebted to the NCAA.

The unions alleged that the airlines have refused their workers to join unions, although there was no indication that workers of any of the airlines accused have written to the unions complaining that the airlines they work for refused to allow them join the unions. The Director General of the NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, appealed to the unions to suspend their industrial action and resolve the dispute through dialogue.

Air Peace, the largest airline in Nigeria, apologized to passengers for the disruption caused by the industrial action. The workers of Air Peace dissociated themselves from the ongoing picketing of airlines by aviation industry unions, saying they are not part of the industrial action. The workers stated that they have always had a voice in the running of the company and had no need to join an industrial union.

## What changed The industrial action was temporarily suspended, allowing airlines to restore services and passengers to travel. However, the dispute between the unions and airline operators remains unresolved. The NCAA is set to introduce Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to track passengers' checked-in luggage at Nigerian airports.

## Why it matters The dispute between the labour unions and airlines has significant implications for the Nigerian aviation industry. The Ticket Sales Charge debt and unionization issues have been ongoing, and the industrial action has caused disruptions to flights and stranded passengers. The NCAA's intervention has temporarily suspended the industrial action, but a long-term solution is needed to resolve the dispute and prevent future disruptions.

The Nigerian aviation industry is a critical sector of the country's economy, and any disruptions can have significant consequences for passengers, airlines, and the economy as a whole. The introduction of RFID technology to track passengers' checked-in luggage is a positive development, but the dispute between the unions and airlines needs to be resolved to ensure the stability and growth of the industry.