The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has appealed to aviation unions to suspend their ongoing industrial action, saying the disruption is already affecting operations across the country's aviation sector.

The Director-General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, made the appeal after a peace meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, could not hold because airline operators failed to attend.

The unions had commenced industrial action over a dispute involving the remittance of Ticket Sales Charges by airlines. The dispute has heightened concerns about disruptions to flight operations and services across Nigerian airports.

Najomo urged the unions to reconsider their position and allow dialogue to continue, stressing the importance of resolving the disagreement without further disrupting the aviation industry.

The NCAA said it remained committed to facilitating discussions among the affected parties and finding a solution to the dispute.

The development follows weeks of tension between aviation unions and airline operators over unpaid or unremitted statutory charges, with unions previously threatening to picket airlines over the issue.

The authority appealed to all stakeholders to prioritise the stability of the aviation sector and protect passengers and workers from the consequences of prolonged industrial action.