How ASRTI Contributed To Stopping Aviation Unions’ Picketing, AON Spokesman
The spokesperson of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo says the picketing carried out by aviation unions at Abuja and Lagos airports on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 would have brought the aviation sector to its lowest point if not for the intervention of Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), media reports by members of the League of Airport & Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) and some other stakeholders.
Speaking at the 30th Annual Conference of the League of Airport & Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), held at Providence Hotel, Lagos under the theme, Towards A Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing Government Revenue Demands With Sector Growth, Okonkwo said there were expectations of condemnations of such actions from certain quarters but such expressions did not come.
Okonkwo, who is the executive chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, said “that shameful display at the airport would have brought us to our lowest point if not for the reactions and condemnation from so many gathered here.
I especially commend the Aviation Roundtable and my brother, Air Commodore Ademola Onitiju (Rtd), whose loud voice was heard worldwide. Others spoke as well, reporting in various styles, but we expected condemnation from quarters that should have known better but that did not come. I remain concerned about this,” he said.
Responding to the statement made by Okonkwo, the national President of National President of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), John Ogbe, explained that efforts to unionize the sector is driven by a commitment to partnership and industry stability, not disruption, adding that union membership is a matter of choice as is covered in the Nigerian Constitution, Trade Union Act, and International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention. Ogbe described the unions as partners to airlines stating that the union’s efforts are aimed at fostering cooperation rather than conflict.
The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and ATSSSAN had in August, accused the AON of failing to remit the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) to aviation agencies and preventing their staff from joining unions.
Over 70 flights were disrupted following the picketing of Air Peace at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
