Today, the leaders of aviation unions told their members to stop working, which has grounded all aircraft and left travellers stranded across the country.
The order was contained in a circular of August 10, 2026, signed jointly by the National Union of Air Transport Employes (NUATE) in conjunction with the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE). Africans & Diaspora
TNT reporter observed a circular where the unions are accusing the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) of “acting as a unified cartel in resisting the efforts of trade unions to organise workers within the industry”.
Therefore, the aviation unions issued the following directive to its members “It has therefore become imperative to take a legal and legitimate course of action to compel the AON member airlines to comply with Nigerian laws and to perform their statutory obligations.
“Accordingly, all the Unions State Councils are hereby directed to mobilise the NLC State Councils and members across the country, to picket the offices and operations of AON member airlines across the country, from Tuesday 11th August, 2026, 00 hours”.
The aviation sector is now at a standstill following the aforesaid circular and the unions have vowed to continue the action until their demands are met.
One of the affected passengers told TNT this morning, “I am at the Abuja airport and the workers are on strike. Everything has halted. All the doors are open, all the passengers are off. FLYING
No picketing at the airlines offices. It is a closure of airport(s)”.
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