Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has cautioned aviation unions against picketing, stressing that domestic carriers have no dispute with organised labour.
He alleged that vested interests are attempting to use industrial action to further their own agenda at the expense of an already fragile aviation industry.
Onyema who spoke at the public presentation of “Pathways, Pilgrimage and Destiny,” the biography of Medview Airlines founder, Muneer Bankole, insists the domestic carriers’ only obligation is to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, not labour unions in relation to unremitted Ticket Sales Charges (TSC).
He said domestic operators have consistently honoured invitations from the regulator and have continued to comply with its directives whenever issues arise, insisting that there is no conflict between the airlines and organised labour to warrant any industrial action.
Aviation unions threatened to shut down airline operations over a dispute with the Airline Operators of Nigeria on the remittance of the statutory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge. The levy is collected by airlines from passengers on behalf of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. The unions say the failure to remit the funds is affecting aviation agencies’ operations, workers’ welfare and the safety of the industry. They warned they could halt the operations of defaulting airlines without further notice.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said the Federal Government is engaging both parties to avert disruptions to domestic flight services.
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