Aviation workers have announced plans to shut down airports across Nigeria in protest against what they describe as a 50% deduction by the Federal Government from revenue generated.
The nationwide action, announced by key unions including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), will involve peaceful demonstrations at airports.
In a letter, the unions expressed frustration over the federal government’s decision to withhold half of the agencies’ revenue, arguing that such deductions threaten the viability of essential safety operations.
They emphasize that the affected agencies, including NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, NiMet, NCAT, and NSIB, are cost-recovery entities rather than profit-driven organizations, and cannot sustain operations under such financial strain.
The letter dated 14th Aug., 2024 and titled ” SAVE AVIATION FROM COLLAPSE NOTICE OF NATIONWIDE PROTEST ” partly reads, “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.
“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.
“Information available to us indicate 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.
“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.”
