Air traffic services across Nigeria may face imminent disruption as a coalition of aviation unions has directed all employees of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to down tools from Monday, 11 August 2025, over what they described as persistent neglect by the federal government to implement an agreed salary structure.
The decision was conveyed in a strongly worded joint statement issued on Thursday, 7 August, and signed by representatives of four major aviation unions. The groups include the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).
“As you are all aware, the notice of withdrawal of services given on 30th July 2025, expires at the end of today,” the statement read. “Therefore, all workers of NAMA are hereby directed to stop all services with effect from Monday, 11th August, 2025 at 05hrs indefinitely.”
The unions warned that the strike would have serious consequences for the entire aviation industry, urging airline operators and the flying public to seek alternative arrangements.
“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 unions declared. “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 strike threat follows a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a letter dated 31 July 2025. The unions expressed frustration that negotiations on the revised salary structure had been concluded with NAMA management over eight months ago, but the agreement had yet to be implemented.
The statement was jointly 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).
They also copied the strike notice to key aviation authorities, including the Managing Directors of NAMA and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Commissioner of Police (Airport Command), Directors of the Department of State Services across all airports, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria.
The unions warned that their members would not resume work until a fresh directive is issued from their national secretariats, emphasising that only official communication from the leadership of the unions would be recognised.
