Market News
Flight chaos looms as aviation workers begin strike Monday - PUNCH
Palpable tension is building up in Nigeria’s aviation sector as unions issued a notice of service withdrawal to the Federal Government, effective from Monday, August 11, 2025.
This was contained in a statement signed by the General Secretaries of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, National Union of Air Transport Employees, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees.
The unions lamented the prolonged delay in implementing a new salary structure for workers under the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, despite the conclusion of salary adjustment negotiations with the agency’s management eight months ago.
The letter partly reads, “Recognising that notice of ultimatum has already been issued and served by our branches, which our national unions have adopted.
A seven-day notice of withdrawal of services from today, Thursday, the 31st day of July, 2025, is hereby issued.”
After the expiration of the ultimatum, the union insisted on a total withdrawal of services by 5:00 hours on Monday. The workers, through their strike notice, directed all NAMA staff to stop all services with effect from Monday, August 11, 2025, at 05 hours indefinitely.
“All Airlines and allied companies, as well as the flying public, are hereby informed of the above-stated action and advised to make alternative travel arrangements. All staff shall comply with this directive, and only joint communication from the National Secretariats of the above-named Unions shall be heeded with regard to further directives on this matter,” the letter stated.
The letter was sent to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and copied to the Managing Director/CEO of NAMA, FAAN, the Commissioner of Police, Airports Command, the Directors of State Security (All Airports), and Airline Operators of Nigeria.
The strike notice implies that all flight operations will be suspended, and the entire industry will be grounded, causing disruptions to travelers and the economy.
