Operations of Air Peace were disrupted at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Monday after aviation sector unions shut down the airline’s operations over alleged non-remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, TSC.
The action followed a three-day strike notice issued on August 4 by the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSAN, and the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, over alleged failure by Air Peace and other airlines to remit outstanding TSC payments.
The unions blocked access to Air Peace operations at the old terminal of the Lagos airport as part of efforts to compel the airline to settle the outstanding statutory charges.
The TSC is a statutory levy imposed on commercial airline tickets in Nigeria. Airlines collect the charge and remit it to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, for distribution among relevant aviation agencies to support safety oversight, regulation and infrastructure.
Speaking to affected passengers, ATSSAN General Secretary, Frances Akinjole, said the unions resorted to the action after previous attempts to resolve the matter failed.
“It has never been in our character to stop operations. But when our lives and existence are involved, we have no other choice,” he said.
Akinjole added: “What you are seeing here today, it is not only Air Peace that is culpable. But there is a reason we have started with Air Peace; it is the most stubborn. Air Peace is the template that other recalcitrant airlines are using.
One of the affected passengers speaking to newsmen said that he arrived at the airport in time for his 7am flight, only to discover that the union action had prevented Air Peace from operating.
“I had a flight for 7:00 AM. Against all odds (traffic), I made it right on time, only to find out that the union guys have stopped Airpeace from flying today. Everyone is stranded. It is painful,” the passenger said.
Meanwhile, the NCAA said it was aware of the development and appealed to the unions to suspend the action.
NCAA Director-General, Captain Chris Ona Najomo, said the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been working to resolve the dispute.
“The matter would have been addressed at the meeting convened by the Minister last week, but the meeting could not be held as the airline operators failed to honour the invitation,” Najomo said.
He assured passengers that safety had not been compromised, adding that the NCAA remained committed to carrying out its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.
“We appeal to all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation. We are confident that the matter will be resolved shortly and normal flight operations will resume as soon as practicable,” he said.
Efforts to obtain Air Peace’s response to the development were unsuccessful.
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