TSC crisis: Unions threaten to picket airlines

Nigeria’s aviation sector may be heading for another round of industrial action as two major aviation unions have declared that they are prepared to commence the picketing of airlines accused of withholding billions of naira in statutory Ticket Sales Charges, warning that the action could begin “anytime from now.”

The threat follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the affected airlines on 3 August 2026, after an earlier 14-day notice failed to produce the desired response.

The airlines made their latest stance known through a statement jointly signed by the General Secretary of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Frances Akinjole; and the Deputy General Secretary of National Union of Air Transport Employees, Odinaka Igbokwe.

According to the unions, the airlines have been collecting statutory levies from passengers for government aviation agencies without remitting them in line with legal requirements.

After the expiration of two warning dates, the Airline Operators of Nigeria yesterday said they have no transactional relationship with the unions, warning that any form of picketing of their business will have dire consequences.

The operators added that they would ordinarily not respond to what they described as “misinformed threats,” but mounting concerns from passengers over the fate of their travel plans made it necessary to clarify their position.

The Ticket Sales Charges are deducted from every passenger’s airfare to support the operations of critical aviation agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

According to the unions, the persistent refusal by some airlines to remit the funds is threatening the sustainability of aviation safety oversight, air navigation services, accident investigation, weather forecasting, manpower development, and other essential functions that keep Nigeria’s aviation industry running.

The unions said every avenue for dialogue had been exhausted, maintaining that the issue goes beyond financial obligations, insisting that it directly affects aviation safety and the welfare of workers across the industry.