Air Peace petitions police over aviation union dispute, unions allege employer resistance to unionization

The police are investigating an alleged case of "Conspiracy, Threatening Violence, Inciting Disturbance of Public Peace, Assault Occasioning Harm and Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of Peace." The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ATSSSAN has been invited to appear before the Police Monitoring Unit in Abuja on September 2, 2026. ATSSSAN secretary Francis Akinjole confirmed receipt of the invitation and stated the unions would comply.

Meanwhile, the unions, including ATSSSAN, the National Union of Air Transport Employees, and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, accuse some domestic airlines of frustrating unionization and intimidating workers. General Secretary of NAAPE, Olayinka Abioye, attributed the crisis partly to the decline of trade unionism after the liquidation of Nigeria Airways. He alleged that only Arik Air and Aero Contractors among 18 domestic airlines have unionized workers, claiming other carriers do not permit union activities and that workers willing to join unions are threatened by employers.

NUATE Treasurer, Safiya Araga, described the restriction of workers from joining unions as a serious labor-rights issue, highlighting concerns over employment practices, poor worker welfare, and job insecurity, which she