Airlines Brush Off Union Ultimatum Over Unpaid TSC, Point to Existing NCAA Deal

Nigerian domestic airlines have pushed back against a 14-day ultimatum from two aviation unions demanding the immediate settlement of outstanding Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) remittances, arguing that the labour groups have no standing to interfere in what is strictly a regulatory matter.

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) had jointly threatened to disrupt operations if the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) failed to remit the unpaid levy within two weeks.

But a senior figure within the AON, who spoke to *Daily Sun* on the condition of anonymity, dismissed the threat as legally baseless. The source insisted that the unions are neither parties to the transaction nor authorised representatives of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“They do not speak for the NCAA, and they certainly do not speak for the airlines. It is odd that a group with no commercial or statutory interest in this matter would issue ultimatums that could ground the entire sector,” the source said.

According to the source, the AON and the NCAA had already resolved the issue in a previous meeting. Both parties agreed that airlines would remit an initial 10 percent of the outstanding TSC, with the remainder to be paid in agreed instalments.

Several airlines have already started making the initial payments, while others are finalising their deposits, the source confirmed.

The source argued that any strike action based on the unions’ ultimatum would be unlawful, given that the debt—if it exists, is between the airlines and the regulator, not between the airlines and the unions.

“The airlines have dealt directly with the NCAA and reached a workable arrangement. That arrangement is currently being honoured. Third parties who have no contractual relationship with us have no right to disrupt our operations,” the source said.

Beyond the TSC dispute, the source highlighted the broader financial distress facing local carriers. Airlines are already saddled with numerous charges, taxes, and levies imposed by the NCAA and other agencies, not to mention the spiralling cost of aviation fuel.

“We are not refusing to pay. We are struggling to survive,” the source said. “Instead of understanding the situation, we are being threatened with shutdown. That is not fair, and it is not helpful.”

The operators are calling for a more measured approach, stressing that the agreed repayment plan shows good faith on their part. They also urged the unions to stay out of what they described as a purely regulatory matter.

For now, the unions have not indicated whether they will proceed with their threat. The NCAA has also not issued a public statement on the matter. But with airlines insisting that they are on track with their payment schedule and the unions holding to their position, the industry appears headed for a tense few weeks.

At the heart of the issue lies a recurring tension: who has the right to enforce compliance in Nigeria’s aviation sector—and whether labour unions can step in when the regulator remains silent.