Two major aviation unions — the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) — have petitioned the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over alleged violations of the “Safety Threshold Ground Handling Charges” by operators in the industry.
In a joint letter signed by ATSSSAN’s Principal Deputy General Secretary, Frances Akinjole, and NUATE’s Deputy General Secretary, Odinaka Igbokwe, the unions accused the NCAA of failing to act on earlier complaints about the issue. Copies of the petition were sent to the managing directors of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), airlines, and branch union executives.
The unions expressed concern that despite an industry-wide agreement reached earlier this year under the Aviation Ground Handling Association of Nigeria, some operators were allegedly undercutting prices in violation of the agreed safety threshold.
Earlier, ground handling firms — citing rising inflation and escalating operational costs — had reviewed their charges upward. Rates for handling a Boeing 737 aircraft rose from ₦70,000 to ₦400,000, while CRJ/Embraer charges increased from ₦50,000 to ₦250,000. Dash 8 aircraft charges climbed from ₦25,000 to ₦150,000. Ancillary services such as pushback and ground power unit support also saw sharp increases, with the NCAA later imposing a 15 percent reduction following pushback from airlines.
However, findings indicate that major operators, including NAHCO and SAHCO, are accusing each other of breaching the framework through price undercutting in a bid to attract clients.
The unions, in an earlier letter dated July 4, 2025, had raised similar concerns and urged the NCAA to safeguard the integrity of the pricing agreement. They warned that continued violations without regulatory enforcement could trigger industrial action.
“Considering the roles our unions played during and after the birth of the agreement, no member or officer of our union shall be held liable for taking any action deemed necessary to protect the sanctity of the agreement,” the petition stated.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may intervene amid concerns that breaches of the pricing framework could undermine safety standards. NCAA Director-General Chris Najomo recently met with EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede in Abuja, though details of their discussions remain undisclosed.
