Aviation Crisis Averted As Keyamo Secures Suspension Of Planned Strike.
Nigeria’s aviation sector breathed a sigh of relief as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the suspension of a planned nationwide strike by aviation unions, set to begin on Monday, 11 August 2025. The decision, confirmed in a statement shared via the minister’s X account on Sunday, followed intense negotiations with union leaders, averting a potential shutdown of air navigation and traffic management services across the country.
The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUCPTRE) issued a joint statement confirming the suspension. The unions had threatened industrial action over long-standing demands for improved remuneration, particularly for workers at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). However, they cited “positive developments” as the reason for deferring the strike, including a “no objection” letter from the Budget Office to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, paving the way for a revised pay structure to be implemented with August salaries.
Keyamo expressed delight at the outcome, attributing the breakthrough to his longstanding relationship with labour unions. “We are happy to announce that, after our intervention, the planned strike by the aviation unions due to commence tomorrow has been shelved,” he stated. The minister pledged to continue working with union leaders to resolve lingering issues in the sector, emphasising a commitment to dialogue and good faith to address challenges inherited from previous administrations.
The unions, in their statement, urged NAMA staff to remain united and patient as they monitor the situation through the end of August 2025, when the new remuneration structure is expected to take effect. The suspension has prevented widespread disruptions to domestic and international flights, which would have impacted travellers and the broader economy. Keyamo’s intervention, alongside assurances from NAMA management, has been hailed as a critical step towards maintaining stability in Nigeria’s aviation industry.