The jont aviation workers comprising 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 National Safety Investigation Bureau ,NSIB, have threatened to embark on peaceful protests at airports across Nigeria to demand an end to the 50% deduction from the internally generated revenue of the agencies
According to the workers, the policy undermines their operational efficiency and financial stability.
In a joint statement on Wednesday signed by Comrade Ocheme Aba, General Secretary of NUATE; Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu, Secretary General of ANAP; Comrade Sikiru Waheed, General Secretary of AUPCTRE; Comrade Frances Akinjole, Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN; and Comrade Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary of NAAPE, the workers disclosed that the protests would commence on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 if their demands are not met.
The statement reads in part: “All workers of the NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, NiMet, NCAT and NSIB, joined by 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.
“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 unions stated that information available to them indicates that some important safety-critical activities of the agencies are grinding to a halt under the burden 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.
“All State Councils, Women Commissions/Committees, Youth Councils and Branches of our Unions nationwide are to fully mobilise for, and ensure full compliance and success of the peaceful protests,” the statement adds.
