TSC crisis: Aviation unions threaten to ground defaulting airlines over unpaid levies
Nigeria's aviation industry may be on the brink of fresh industrial action as two major aviation unions have threatened to picket airlines accused of withholding billions of naira in statutory Ticket Sales Charges (TSCs).
The unions said the action could begin "anytime from now" after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the affected airlines on August 3, 2026. The deadline followed an earlier 14-day notice that also failed to secure compliance.
The warning was contained in a joint statement signed by the General Secretary of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Frances Akinjole, and the Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Odinaka Igbokwe.
The unions alleged that the affected airlines have continued to collect statutory charges from passengers on behalf of government aviation agencies but have failed to remit the funds in accordance with legal requirements.
Responding to the threat, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) said it has no transactional relationship with the unions and cautioned that any attempt to disrupt airline operations would have serious consequences.
The operators said they would not ordinarily respond to what they described as "misinformed threats" but chose to address the issue because of increasing concerns among passengers over the status of their travel plans.
Ticket Sales Charges are statutory deductions from every passenger's airfare used to finance the operations of key aviation agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
According to the unions, the continued failure by some airlines to remit the charges is threatening the effective functioning of the country's aviation system by depriving critical agencies of funds needed for safety oversight, air navigation, accident investigation, weather services, manpower development, and other essential responsibilities.
The unions said all attempts to resolve the matter through dialogue had been exhausted, insisting that the dispute is not merely about financial obligations but one that directly affects aviation safety and the welfare of workers across the sector.
"The expiration of the seven-day ultimatum, coming after the earlier 14-day notice, has shown that these airlines are deliberately refusing to do what is right," the statement said.
"They collected this money from passengers on behalf of government aviation agencies, yet they have chosen to withhold it despite repeated appeals.
"It has become crystal clear that these airlines have decided to divert funds meant for the smooth running of Nigeria's aviation industry to the detriment of our collective safety and well-being."
The unions argued that airlines that fail to meet their statutory remittance obligations should not continue to operate alongside carriers that comply with the law.
They warned that they were prepared to shut down the operations of the affected airlines at airports nationwide.
"It is now established that these defaulting airlines are unfit to remain in our skies while responsible and patriotic operators continue to meet their obligations," the statement added.
"In safeguarding the interests of airport workers and, more importantly, the safety of the flying public, our unions have decided to stop the operations of these defaulting airlines in our airports anytime from now, without any further notice."
The unions maintained that the planned industrial action is intended to protect the travelling public by ensuring that funds meant to sustain Nigeria's aviation regulatory and safety infrastructure are remitted without further delay.