Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed aviation regulators and airlines to agree on realistic repayment schedules for outstanding statutory debts as part of efforts to prevent further industrial disruptions in the sector.
Keyamo issued the directive on Thursday at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting with airline operators, aviation unions and heads of aviation agencies, following the industrial action that disrupted flight operations at several Nigerian airports earlier in the week.
A statement by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mahmud Adam Kambari, said the meeting was convened to address the financial and labour issues that have strained relations between airlines, regulators and organised labour.
Under the resolutions reached, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other aviation agencies are to obtain detailed payment schedules from airlines with outstanding debts. The repayment arrangements are expected to be spread over a reasonable period, taking into account the airlines’ operating costs and prevailing economic conditions.
The Directors of Finance and Accounts of the affected aviation agencies are also expected to meet individually with airlines within one week to negotiate and finalise repayment terms for outstanding statutory charges and regulatory levies.
The directive is aimed at addressing one of the major issues underlying the recent dispute over the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), while easing the financial pressure on airlines and preventing the accumulation of further liabilities.
The minister also addressed the dispute over workers’ unionisation rights, reaffirming that employees should be free to decide whether or not to belong to a trade union.
As part of the agreement, the NCAA is to ensure that aviation unions have direct access to workers across airlines for the purpose of distributing union membership forms. Workers are expected to make their choices independently, without interference from either management or unions.
Keyamo warned that airlines that prevent union representatives from accessing their workers for this purpose could face sanctions from the NCAA.
The resolution effectively separates the right of workers to consider union membership from any obligation to join a union, with the ministry emphasising that the decision must ultimately rest with individual employees.
The stakeholders also agreed to reconvene after one month to review implementation of the resolutions and assess progress in resolving the outstanding issues.
The emergency meeting followed the temporary suspension of industrial action by aviation unions after their protest disrupted flight operations and left passengers stranded at some airports.
The latest measures are intended to provide a structured approach to resolving both the financial obligations of airlines and the labour concerns raised by aviation unions, while protecting the continuity of air transport services.
Keyamo reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to maintaining a safe, viable and sustainable aviation industry, stressing the need for cooperation among regulators, operators and workers to achieve long-term stability in the sector.
