By Dickson Omobola
Following the picketing of Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, by aviation unions, Wednesday, the airline has disclosed that it lost more than N2 billion in revenue as a result of the industrial action.
The disruption followed a three days 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, demanding the remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, TSC, and an end to what they described as the continued refusal by some airlines to allow the unfettered unionisation of their workers.
When the issues remained unresolved, the unions, backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, proceeded with the industrial action, picketing Air Peace’s operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Meanwhile, the airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, Wednesday, also said should affected passengers seek compensation, the unions responsible for the picketing would be held liable for the consequences of their actions.
Addressing newsmen at Air Peace’s headquarters in Lagos, she urged Federal Government, security agencies, airport authorities and aviation regulators to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the incident.
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.”
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