Workers protest inflation, casualisation in aviation sector

Aviation workers in Nigeria have protested rising inflation and the growing use of casual labour in the sector, warning that worsening economic and operational conditions are eroding their welfare and threatening industry safety.

The National President of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Ogbe John, said that aviation workers are currently suffering under worsening economic and operational conditions, as the nation marked this year’s International Workers’ Day.

Addressing workers during the May 1 celebration, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria recalled the struggles of aviation workers who have continued to keep the sector running despite mounting hardship.

He said, “Today, we stand together from the runway to the terminal to celebrate the hands and minds that keep Nigerians and the world flying. When passengers sleep on the aircraft, the air traffic controller is awake. When families reunite at arrivals, it is because baggage handlers, cleaners, and check-in staff did their job.”

He stressed that, from engineers working in difficult weather conditions to aviation security personnel standing for long hours, airport workers remain the backbone of the industry. He described the workers as, “You all are the airport. Without you, there is no aviation. No takeoff. No landing. No connection.”

The ATSSSAN president further said the reality for many workers is grim, as salaries fail to keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of living. According to him, the economic strain has left many aviation professionals struggling quietly.

He stated, “Our naira is still sick. Food prices go up daily, but salaries are not flying; they remain grounded. The aviators are suffering in silence. We demand a living wage that reflects the risks we take and the cost of living in 2026.”

He also took a strong stance against the growing reliance on contract and casual labour within the aviation sector, describing it as a threat to both safety and workers’ dignity.

The union leader further raised alarm over the persistent crisis surrounding the cost and availability of Jet-A1 fuel, warning that the situation, exacerbated by global tensions, could cripple the aviation industry if not urgently addressed.

He also called on the Federal Government to expedite the long-delayed payment of entitlements owed to former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways, lamenting that many retirees have died waiting for their benefits.

His words, “The airport should be a no-go area for casual workers experimentation. Contract staffing must be systematically phased out. If there must be safety in the sky, there must be dignity of labour in the industry.

“The perennial crisis of aviation fuel has become overwhelmingly worrisome. We urge the Federal Government to engage stakeholders and provide a credible intervention. Aviation must not become an endangered species in our economy.

“Our senior citizens continue to die in their closets without receiving their benefits. The approved N36 billion remains trapped in bureaucratic delays. We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the immediate implementation of the approval granted.”

He assured affected retirees that the union would continue to stand by them until justice is achieved.

The ATSSSAN president equally criticised organisations within the aviation sector that resist unionisation, insisting that workers have a constitutional right to belong to trade unions.

“Unionisation is not a privilege; it is a right guaranteed by law. Aviators should not be made to beg to belong to a union. We will not allow this right to be violated.”

Also, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals expressed reservations over recent interventions in the aviation sector, warning that current measures may not be sufficient to address the depth of challenges confronting airlines and industry stakeholders.

The union noted that while efforts have been made to ease financial pressures, more comprehensive and sustainable solutions are required to stabilise the sector.

The workers were reacting to the 30 per cent reduction in taxes paid to government agencies in the sector.

Recall that recently, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the 30 per cent reduction in taxes owed to aviation agencies in response to the skyrocketing aviation fuel prices.

ANAP also reiterated its long-standing concerns over airport concessions, describing it as a sensitive issue with far-reaching implications for workers, particularly those under the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

The association maintained that although it recognises the Federal Government’s authority to concession airports, it has consistently advocated for the protection of workers’ welfare and national economic interests throughout the process.

Speaking on the industry’s financial interventions, ANAP stated, “We consider the recent debt forgiveness deal offered to the airlines as a mere scratch on the surface of the problem and undue deprivation of revenue needed by the agencies for infrastructural development.

“For the airlines that were in deep turbulent waters before now, a meaningful support mechanism will have to reach much deeper. This, in our candid view, necessitates deeper thinking.

“We use the occasion of this May Day celebration to invite all aviation stakeholders to the table of dialogue and cooperation. Only through honest and open engagement shall the obstacles against aviation growth be surmounted. We stand ready, with open arms, to work with all who are committed to the development of the sector in a manner that leaves no one behind.”