Aviation Unions Suspend Nationwide Strike After Festus Keyamo’s Intervention, Averting Major Travel Disruptions

Nigeria’s aviation unions have suspended their planned nationwide strike, which was scheduled to begin on Monday, following successful interventions by the federal government.

The unions — including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and other aviation workers’ groups — announced the decision in a joint statement, citing “positive developments” after discussions with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and other senior officials.

Minister Keyamo confirmed the suspension via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, attributing the breakthrough to his longstanding relationship with labour unions. He pledged to work closely with union leaders to address long-standing sector challenges, assuring that “by showing absolute good faith, the issues will be resolved one by one.”

The suspension averts what could have been significant disruptions to air travel nationwide, allowing more time for negotiations and potential long-term solutions in the aviation industry.