The Federal Government, airline operators and aviation sector unions have agreed on fresh measures to resolve lingering disputes and restore stability across Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The resolutions were reached at an emergency meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, following tensions that disrupted operations at the Abuja and Lagos airports.
The meeting followed earlier engagements with aviation unions and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), after the unions temporarily suspended their industrial action on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
According to a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mahmud Adam Kambari, the stakeholders agreed on measures to address outstanding financial obligations between airlines and aviation agencies.
Under the new arrangement, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and heads of other aviation agencies will obtain payment schedules from airlines, taking into consideration their operational costs and prevailing economic realities.
Directors of Finance and Accounts across the aviation agencies are also expected to meet with individual airlines within one week to negotiate realistic repayment plans.
The meeting also addressed workers’ rights to join or not join unions. Keyamo reaffirmed that employees have the right to independently decide whether to belong to a union without interference from airline management.
The NCAA was consequently directed to ensure that unions have direct access to employees of all airlines to distribute membership forms and allow workers to make their decisions freely.
Keyamo warned that any airline that prevents unions from interacting directly with its workers would face sanctions from the NCAA.
The stakeholders agreed to reconvene after one month to review progress and assess the implementation of the resolutions.
Keyamo assured stakeholders that the Federal Government remains committed to maintaining a safe, efficient and sustainable aviation sector, while reiterating President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to peace, safety and growth in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
