– Airlines servicing old TSC debt as agreed with NCAA – MD, Aero Contractors canvasses overhaul of aviation sector Chinedu Eze The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has decided to wade into the impasse between the aviation unions and airlines over the Ticket Sales Charge debt which accumulated during the US-Iran war due to sudden spike in the cost of aviation fuel. Labour unions, especially the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association (ATSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on August 7, 2026, issued a three-day notice of strike against airlines deemed to be indebted to the NCAA. The unions also added another condition against the airlines, alleging that the airlines have refused their workers to join unions, although there was no indication that workers of any of the airlines accused have written to the unions complaining that the airlines they work for refused to allow them join the unions. In a statement signed by both unions, they said they made it open that they would “strike” against the airlines at any time and in addition to the demand about the payment of the debts accruing from Ticket Sales Charge, they also added the condition of unionization. The unions alleged the airlines made “unfettered unionisation of staff in their organisation impossible after several efforts made by the aviation unions. Their workers dare not even express the intention to belong to unions of their choices.” They therefore demanded, “Unequivocal declaration through circulars and other direct means of communication to their staff that they are free to join unions of their choices without fear of victimisation and immediate remittance of the seized operational funds of the aviation agencies to allow for the implementation of the conditions of service of our members in the various aviation agencies.” However, the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Michael Achimugu, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that the Director General, NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, would wade into the matter between the unions and the airlines, saying that as the regulator of the industry, the authority would ensure that industrial action is prevented in order not to disrupt flight operations. While dismissing the allegation that the Director General was instigating the airlines, Achimugu insisted that the unions have the right to ask that any airline that owed NCAA should pay the debt because the unions are made up of workers who are owed if the authority does get money to pay them. He also confirmed that NCAA and the airlines have reached agreement that the airlines would pay the debt by instalment with scheduled date after they paid initial 10% off the old debts. “It was the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo and the Director General, CAA, Captain Chris Najomo that stopped the unions when they wanted to picket indebted airlines last week. He spoke to them and confirmed to them that the airlines have started paying the old debt as agreed. “Of course, NCAA absolutely cannot use labour to collect its debt from airlines so, such suggestion is not true because NCAA is the regulator and knows how to relate with the airlines on such matters. I was personally there when the Director General told the unions that the airlines have started paying, so they should suspend the planned picketing,” he said. Achimugu also said 30% waiver was granted to the airlines on the old debt, noting that the reason why the debt was allowed to accumulate into billions of naira was because NCAA Director General has made it as policy that the regulatory body must not regulate the airlines out of business, “so, the onus is on the debtors to show reciprocity and magnanimity with a degree of honesty.” The Director also said he does not support the information making the rounds that the unions want to picket one airline to use them to set example to others, saying that doing that would indicate they are being sponsored; that if they want to disrupt airlines they should target those that infringed on the rules, if any. However, THISDAY investigation revealed that despite the old debts, the airlines are still paying NCAA the current 5% Ticket Sales Charge, Cargo Sales Charge and Charter. For example, Aero Contractors pays about N250 to N400 million monthly to NCAA depending on its passenger throughput and cargo; United Nigeria Airlines pays about N600 million monthly to NCAA and Nigeria’s biggest operator, Air Peace pays about N2. billion monthly to NCAA. THISDAY also learnt that besides 30% waiver on old debt by the federal government, some airlines negotiated and got discount from NCAA, but Achimugu said that he has to confirm from the accounts if that was true. Meanwhile,
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