Aviation workers shutdown Turkish Airlines operations in Lagos over unfair dismissals

File photo: Turkish Airlines

Operations of Turkish Airlines were disrupted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday after aviation workers staged a protest over the alleged dismissal of seven union members.

The protest, organised by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, led to the picketing of the airline’s counters at the international terminal, forcing hundreds of passengers scheduled to travel on the airline to return home.

Union members, who stormed the terminal in their numbers, carried placards and chanted solidarity songs while accusing the airline’s management in Nigeria of violating labour laws and victimising workers for joining a union.

Workers in a video sighted by our correspondent, which showed a chaotic scene, claimed that the affected workers had yet to receive their benefits years after their dismissal, describing the situation as unacceptable.

They also accused the airline of dismissing the seven employees in 2020 over their involvement in union activities.

NUATE said the airline had also ignored a court ruling directing the reinstatement of the dismissed staff.

In a circular dated March 9, 2026 and signed by the General Secretary of NUATE, Sikiru Waheed, the union accused the airline of defying Nigerian laws and the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

The circular read in part: “Following the continued insistence of the management of Turkish Airlines to flagrantly disobey the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Labour Act and despite our best efforts to resolve ongoing cases of severe intimidation, harassment and victimization of our members for joining the union, and following the refusal of the management of Turkish Airlines to honour the ruling by the Federal national Industrial Court (NIC) to pay the sacked Exco members of the Airline, it has become inevitable to embark on a lawful measure to compel the Management to comply with Nigerian laws in respect of unionisation of workers.”

The action disrupted passenger movement at the airport, as many travellers who had already checked in were unable to board their flights.

The dispute between the airline and labour unions has lingered for years.

In 2024, the Nigeria Labour Congress directed its members in Lagos State to shut down the airline over the same issue, insisting that the affected workers were dismissed for unionising under NUATE.

Labour leaders warned that the protests would continue until the airline complies with Nigerian labour laws and reinstates the affected workers.

When contacted, Turkish Airlines Public Communications executive, Taiwo Talabi, promised to get back to our correspondent but never did till press time.