Nigeria's NCAA Urges Unions to Suspend Strike Amid Flight Disruptions

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is appealing to aviation unions to halt their ongoing strike, which has significantly disrupted flight operations and inconvenienced passengers. The appeal comes as a peace meeting, convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, failed to materialize because airline operators did not attend.

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sheathe their swords and exercise restraint

In a statement, NCAA Director-General Chris Najomo acknowledged the "impact of the industrial action on passengers and other stakeholders." He urged the unions to "sheathe their swords and exercise restraint" while awaiting the minister's return, emphasizing Keyamo's active involvement in resolving the dispute. The NCAA noted that the planned meeting last week could have addressed the grievances but collapsed due to the airline operators' absence.

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The matter would have been addressed at the meeting convened by the Honourable Minister last week, but the meeting could not be held as the airline operators failed to honour the invitation.

The industrial action has led to the shutdown of operations for Air Peace, Nigeria's largest airline, exacerbating disruptions for travelers already caught in the dispute. The NCAA is urging all parties to return to the negotiating table, with Najomo expressing confidence that "the matter will be resolved shortly and normal flight operations will resume as soon as practicable."

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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.

Despite the ongoing labor action, the NCAA reassured the traveling public that flight safety has not been compromised. The authority stated its continued commitment to regulatory responsibilities, assuring that "flight safety remains uncompromised." The NCAA also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers and appreciated their patience and understanding. Air Peace also issued an apology to affected passengers, describing the disruption as temporary and promising timely updates.

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The NCAA assures the travelling public that flight safety remains uncompromised, and that the Authority continues to exercise its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.