The unions said the industrial action could commence “anytime from now” following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the affected airlines on August 3, 2026.
The latest warning came after an earlier 14-day notice reportedly failed to yield the expected response from the airlines involved. The position of the unions was contained in a statement jointly signed by the General Secretary of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Frances Akinjole, and the Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Odinaka Igbokwe.
The unions accused some airline operators of collecting mandatory charges from passengers as part of ticket payments but refusing to transfer the funds to the relevant government aviation agencies as required.
They argued that the withheld funds are critical to maintaining key aviation operations, including regulatory oversight, air navigation services, accident investigation, weather monitoring and aviation manpower development.
The Ticket Sales Charges are collected from passengers’ fares to support agencies such as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
According to the unions, failure by airlines to remit the funds poses a serious threat to the sustainability of Nigeria’s aviation safety system and could affect the ability of these agencies to effectively carry out their responsibilities.
The labour groups said they had exhausted all available channels of dialogue and were left with no option but to take action against airlines they accused of violating statutory obligations.
“The expiration of the seven-day ultimatum, coming after the earlier 14-day notice, has shown that these airlines are deliberately refusing to do what is right,” the unions stated.
“They collected this money from passengers on behalf of government aviation agencies, yet they have chosen to withhold it despite repeated appeals.”
The unions further accused the affected airlines of prioritising their own interests over the safety and stability of the aviation sector.
“It has become crystal clear that these airlines have decided to siphon funds meant for the smooth running of Nigeria’s aviation industry to the detriment of our collective safety and well-being,” they added.
They maintained that the dispute was not merely about financial obligations but was directly connected to aviation safety, employee welfare and the continued effectiveness of Nigeria’s aviation institutions.
The unions argued that airlines that fail to meet legal remittance requirements should not be allowed to operate alongside compliant operators.
“It is now established that these pilfering airlines are unfit to remain in our skies while responsible and patriotic operators continue to meet their obligations,” the statement read.
“In safeguarding the interests of airport workers and, more importantly, the safety of the flying public, our unions have decided to stop the operations of these defaulting airlines in our airports anytime from now, without any further notice.”
The threat has already drawn a response from the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), which said on Monday that it had no direct relationship with the unions and warned that any attempt to disrupt airline operations could have serious consequences.
The operators said they would ordinarily not respond to what they described as “misinformed threats”, but noted that concerns from passengers over possible travel disruptions made it necessary to clarify their position.
While the unions insist that the planned action is aimed at protecting passengers by ensuring aviation safety agencies receive funds required for effective operations, airline operators have maintained that any disruption to their businesses could negatively affect travellers and the wider aviation sector.
The coming days are expected to determine whether both sides will reach an agreement or whether the dispute will escalate into industrial action across Nigerian airports.