Nigeria: TSC Row - Unions Disrupt Air Peace Operations, Strand Passengers

What the report says

Unions in Nigeria’s air transport sector disrupted operations of Air Peace, the country’s largest airline, on August 11, 2026, leaving passengers stranded at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. According to Vanguard, the stoppage followed a three-day strike notice issued by the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on August 4 over the airline’s alleged failure to remit the 5% Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).

The unions said they halted flights at the old terminal to pressure the carrier to clear outstanding payments. The TSC is a statutory levy on commercial airline tickets in Nigeria that is collected by airlines and remitted to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), with the revenue distributed among aviation agencies for oversight, regulation and infrastructure support. ATSSAN’s general secretary, Frances Akinjole, said the unions had tried other ways to resolve the dispute before taking action.

Passengers described delays and frustration, with some saying they had arrived on time only to find flights cancelled or suspended. The NCAA said it was aware of the disruption and urged the unions to suspend the action while dialogue continued. It also said the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development had been working on a resolution, though a planned meeting was not held after airline operators did not attend. The incident highlights ongoing tension over industry levies and compliance in Nigeria’s aviation sector.