Fresh tension is mounting within Nigeria's aviation industry as senior officials of a key union and other stakeholders voice strong opposition to what they see as a move to concentrate union leadership under a single government agency.
Open Letter Warns of 'Dangerous Monopoly'
In an open letter circulated across the sector on Friday, December 5, 2025, a group of senior union figures raised the alarm over ongoing manoeuvres. They allege these moves are designed to ensure that the next leadership of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) comes exclusively from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The signatories pointed out that this push is happening even though two other major aviation unions—the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP)—are already led by FAAN personnel. They warned that allowing another FAAN official to head ATSSSAN would create what they termed a "dangerous monopoly" and erode the diverse representation fundamental to aviation labour unions.
Key Signatories and Core Arguments
The letter was jointly signed by prominent union leaders from across various agencies:
- Comrade Aderemi Adeerinkomi, Chairman of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) ATSSSAN branch.
- Comrade Ekip Eso, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) branch.
- Comrade Henry Okon, Secretary of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc branch.
The group emphasised that ATSSSAN was established as a national union representing senior staff across all aviation agencies, including NAMA, NCAA, FAAN, airlines, and allied service providers. They stressed it was never meant to be an extension of any single agency.
"The entire aviation workforce cannot be placed under the control or influence of one agency. Aviation is not FAAN, and unionism is not FAAN," the letter stated categorically.
Potential Consequences and Call to Action
The concerned workers outlined several risks of a union structure dominated by one agency. They argued it could:
- Distort fair representation.
- Suppress minority voices from other agencies.
- Skew collective bargaining outcomes.
- Weaken overall labour solidarity in the sector.
They also questioned the rationale behind the alleged push for FAAN dominance, asking whether FAAN contributes more to the union's finances or faces disproportionately more labour issues than other agencies.
The letter urged all aviation workers to reject any attempt to position FAAN as the sole power centre for labour leadership. They insisted that the upcoming union elections must remain transparent, inclusive, and reflective of the entire industry's diversity.
"This fight is not against FAAN, but against a dangerous precedent in labour leadership," they clarified.
The elections into various ATSSSAN offices are scheduled to hold on December 10 in Jos, Plateau State, setting the stage for a crucial decision that could reshape union dynamics in Nigerian aviation.
