Aviation Agencies Are Cost Recovery, Not Profit Organizations, Aviation Unions Insist
Aviation unions in Nigeria under the 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), say “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.”
A statement jointly signed by Comrade Ocheme Aba, NUATE General Secretary, Comrade Frances Akinjole, ATSSSAN Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Abdul Rasaq, Secretary General of ANAP and Comrade Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary of NAAPE reads: “All workers of the NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, NiMet, NCAT and NSIB, joint solidarity of all aviation workers are hereby directed to embark on peaceful protests at all airports nationwide on 18th September 2024 to demand the discontinuation of deduction of 50% from the internally generated revenue of the agencies mentioned above through an exemption.”
It further states that “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.
All State Councils, Women Commissions /Committees, Youth Councils and Branches of our Unions nationwide are to fully mobilize for, and ensure full compliance and success of the peaceful protests.
Further actions shall be decided and communicated in the events of the protest failing to achieve a desired result.”
