Why Air Peace? The Selective Targeting of Nigeria’s Largest Airline Must Stop – THISDAYLIVE

Fred Chukwuelobe

Why Air Peace? That is the question Nigerians must ask following the decision by aviation industry unions to picket and disrupt the operations of Nigeria’s largest airline in Lagos and Abuja.

This is not the first time Air Peace has found itself at the receiving end of what appears to be disproportionate industrial action. A few years ago, when the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was engaged in a dispute with the Imo State Government, Air Peace was also picketed despite having nothing to do with the dispute.

So, what is different this time? And why does Air Peace repeatedly appear to become the target?

The unions have advanced two principal reasons for the latest action: the alleged refusal of Air Peace workers to join the unions and an alleged debt owed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) by all the airlines in respect of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).

On the alleged debt, the Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, reportedly said the regulator and all the airlines under the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) had reached an agreement for the settlement of the outstanding owed by all the airlines. If such an agreement exists and the airlines are complying with it, why has the matter suddenly become grounds for industrial action against Air Peace?

Records obtained indicate that the airline has paid billions in Ticket Charges last year and several billions this year and is still paying. It also paid several millions in other charges during the period and so far this year. As the country’s largest airline, Air Peace naturally pays more in statutory charges because of its size and operations.

If the dispute is between a regulator and an airline over payment obligations, when did aviation unions become debt-collection agents for the…