Aviation workers across Nigeria have announced plans to hold a nationwide protest on August 21, 2024, in response to the Federal Government’s continued deduction of 50% from the internally generated revenue (IGR) of key aviation agencies.
The unions disclosed this in a letter dated August 14, 2024, titled “Save Aviation From Collapse,” which was released to journalists on Thursday.
The agencies affected by these deductions include the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
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In the letter, the unions stated, “All workers of the NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, NiMet, NCAT, and NSIB, joined by the solidarity of all aviation workers, are hereby directed to embark on peaceful protests at all airports nationwide on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, to demand the discontinuation of deduction of 50% from the internally generated revenue of the agencies mentioned above through exemption.”
The unions expressed concern that these deductions have placed significant financial strain on the agencies, compromising critical safety activities. “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, organisations. As such, they cannot survive on half of their incomes under any model of administration or any other guise whatsoever,” the letter continued.
The unions further warned that they would not take responsibility if the aviation industry becomes dysfunctional due to the financial constraints imposed by the deductions. “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,” they added.
In preparation for the protest, the unions have directed all state councils, women’s commissions, youth councils, and branches of their unions nationwide to mobilize fully and ensure widespread participation.
