Flight disruptions loom as aviation workers unions begin indefinite strike Monday

Passengers may experience flight delays and cancellations from Monday as the coalition of aviation unions directed all staff of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to halt services indefinitely starting Monday, August 11, 2025, over unresolved issues.

The decision was announced in a joint notice issued on August 7 by four major unions representing aviation professionals.

The directive was conveyed in a Thursday statement jointly signed by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees.

In a joint letter dated July 31, 2025, the unions issued a seven-day ultimatum to Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, over the prolonged delay in implementing a new salary structure for workers under the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

They threatened to totally withdraw the services of NAMA workers if the issue was not resolved, a development capable of shutting down operations in the country’s aviation sector.

They also expressed frustration that despite concluding negotiations with the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency over eight months ago, agreed salary adjustments remain unimplemented.

Reminding the minister that the ultimatum expires on Thursday, August 7, 2025, the unions alerted all stakeholders in the aviation industry to prepare for service disruptions.

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They also urged all NAMA employees to strictly comply with the instructions.

“As you are all aware, the notice of withdrawal of services given on 30th July, 2025, expires at the end of today.

“Therefore, all workers of NAMA are hereby directed to stop all services with effect from Monday, 11th August, 2025 at 05hrs 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,” the statement read.

“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 unions declared.

The statement was signed by AbdulRasaq Saidu (Secretary General, ANAP), Odinakachukwu J. Igbokwe (Deputy General Secretary, NUATE), Frances Akinjole (Principal Deputy General Secretary, ATSSSAN), and Alo Lawrence O. (General Secretary, AUPCTRE).

The unions also copied the notice to top aviation authorities, including Keyamo, the Managing Directors of NAMA and FAAN, the Commissioner of Police (Airport Command), the Directors of State Security (All Airports), and the Airline Operators of Nigeria.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.