Aviation activities across Nigeria may come to a halt as from 18th of September 2024 as unions in the sector are set to embark on a nationwide protest across the county over the deduction of 50% income from the internally generated revenue of agencies in the sector by Federal Government.
The Unions which comprises, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), in a statement, directed their members in all the aviation agencies in the sector to proceed on a nationwide protest if the federal government fails to discontinue the deductions from the agencies’ revenue.
According to them, critical safety activities of the agencies in the sector are grinding to a halt due the deduction being made by the federal government.
The stated that all efforts to make the government seasons to discontinue to the deductions have failed.
“All workers are hereby directed to embark on peaceful protests at all airports nationwide on the 18th of September 2024 to demand the discontinuation of deduction of 50% from the internally generated revenue of the agencies mentioned above through an exemption.
“All efforts on our part have failed to impress it upon the Federal Government that all the agencies are cost recovery, and not profit making, organizations. As such they cannot survive on half of their incomes under any model of administration, or any other guise whatsoever. And the ultimatum given for the Minister of Aviation on same has expired since the end of August, 2024.
“Information available to us indicates that some important safety critical activities of the agencies are grinding to a halt under the yoke of the deductions. It has, therefore, become incumbent on us as trade unions and workers in aviation to let the public and the government be aware that we shall bear no responsibility in the certain event that the industry becomes dysfunctional as a result of financial incapacity due to the deductions at source.”
