The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has described the petition filed by Air Peace against the union as ridiculous.
The workers, who honoured the police invitation following the petition, stated that the airline’s petition also accused the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the Airport Command of the Nigeria Civil Police, among others, of various wrongdoings against it.
The union made this known in a short statement sent to aviation workers across the country after meeting with the police on Wednesday over the Air Peace petition.
Recall that The PUNCH had earlier reported that five Air Peace buses were towed into police custody by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria after they were found parked in a manner capable of obstructing airport operations.
The airline petitioned the police following an industrial action by aviation unions over Air Peace’s alleged refusal to remit the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, as required by law.
The action, which took place on August 11 and grounded Air Peace’s operations at the Lagos and Abuja airports, disrupted travel plans and left passengers scrambling for alternative means of transportation.
In the ATSSSAN statement, the union noted that it had met with the police and that the issues surrounding the petition had been put in proper perspective.
The Secretary-General of ATSSSAN, Francis Akinjole, said, “I write to inform all that we have done our part to honour the Nigeria Police invitation as a responsible organisation, and we left the Police Headquarters about three hours ago.
“While there, we stated our version of the occurrence of August 11 from our own perspective. The police promised to have similar interactions with every other person or organisation that has things to say about the contents of the petition from the Air Peace lawyer, including Air Peace itself.
“It was ridiculous that the Air Peace petition accused the unions, FAAN, NCAA, the police airport command and almost everyone in the industry of one thing or the other.”
He added that the police might still call all the parties involved to a meeting to permanently resolve the issues between them.
He said, “It was declared that every party may later be called together for discussion because the aviation industry is a strategic and sensitive sector that must be collectively protected. We were appealed to by the police to maintain peace.”
He, however, praised the workers for their “sagacious resolve to stand for justice and stand firm in solidarity. You are the true heroes and heroines of this struggle.”
Akinlotan is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of experience reporting on politics, social justice, motoring, railways, and aviation. His work focuses on accountability, public interest, and social change, producing stories that inspire reform and amplify underrepresented voices. Akinlotan’s reporting reflects extensive newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a strong commitment to accurate, impact-driven journalism.
