A potential disruption to Air Peace flight operations has been averted after the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) suspended its planned industrial action following a meeting with Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
The development came after the police invited ATSSSAN officials over a petition submitted by Air Peace concerning the union’s August 11 picketing of the airline. The planned industrial action had raised concerns that flight operations across Nigerian airports could be affected.
Following the meeting, ATSSSAN General Secretary Frances Akinjole said the union had presented its account of the August 11 incident to the police. He explained that the authorities had promised to hear from other parties involved in the dispute, including Air Peace.
“While there, we stated the version of the occurrence of August 11 from our own perspective,” Akinjole said. He added that the police would interact with other persons and organisations connected to the allegations made in the airline’s petition.
The suspension is significant for passengers because a fresh industrial action could have resulted in flight delays, cancellations and disruptions across Air Peace’s domestic network. The airline is one of Nigeria’s major carriers, serving several important domestic and international routes.
The dispute follows an earlier confrontation between the airline and aviation unions, which led to picketing at Air Peace facilities in Lagos and Abuja and disrupted scheduled flights. Reports at the time indicated that numerous flights were cancelled or affected by the blockade.
