The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has urged aviation unions to suspend their ongoing industrial action over the disputed Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and return to the negotiating table, as the protest continues to disrupt flight operations and inconvenience air travellers.
The appeal was made by the NCAA Director General, Capt. Chris Najomo, in a statement issued on Tuesday,, following disruptions to airline operations in Lagos and Abuja.
The industrial action, driven by the unions’ opposition to issues surrounding the collection and administration of the TSC, has affected flight operations and left passengers stranded at some airports, with Air Peace among the airlines whose operations were disrupted.
The aviation regulator called on the unions to exercise restraint and sheathe their swords pending the return of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who the NCAA said had been actively engaged in efforts to resolve the dispute.
“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is aware of the ongoing industrial action by aviation unions and its impact on passengers and other stakeholders,” Najomo said.
“The NCAA appeals to the unions to sheathe their swords and exercise restraint pending the return of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), who has been actively working towards resolving the issues.”
The NCAA said the minister had convened a meeting last week as part of efforts to address the issues underlying the dispute.
However, the meeting could not take place because airline operators did not honour the invitation.
The regulator said it remained committed to supporting efforts aimed at achieving a mutually acceptable resolution, stressing that dialogue and cooperation among the affected stakeholders were essential to preventing further disruption to air transport services.
The latest industrial action has heightened concerns over the impact of labour disputes on passengers and airline operations, particularly at the Lagos and Abuja airports, which serve as major hubs for domestic air travel.
The NCAA appealed to all parties involved in the TSC dispute to avoid actions that could further disrupt aviation services and instead return to constructive engagement.
According to the regulator, the issues surrounding the charge can be resolved through continued dialogue and coordinated engagement between the unions, airlines, government agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
The authority expressed confidence that the dispute would be resolved shortly and that normal flight operations would resume.
The NCAA also sought to reassure passengers that the industrial action had not compromised aviation safety, stating that it continued to discharge its statutory responsibility for safety oversight across the sector.
The regulator said it remained focused on ensuring that safety and regulatory standards were maintained while stakeholders worked towards resolving the disagreement.
The appeal comes as aviation stakeholders continue to seek a resolution to the TSC controversy, with the NCAA urging all parties to prioritise the interests of passengers and the stability of the aviation industry.
The authority said the return of Minister Keyamo would provide an opportunity for renewed engagement and further discussions aimed at resolving the outstanding issues.
(The Whistler)
