Aviation workers plan to embark on a nationwide strike on August 21, 2024, in protest against the Federal Government’s continued deduction of 50 percent from the internally generated revenue of key aviation agencies.
However, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has urged caution, warning that a strike in the sector could disrupt flight operations across the country.
The unions announced their decision in a letter dated August 14, 2024, titled *Save Aviation From Collapse*, which was released to journalists on Thursday.
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The affected agencies include the NCAA, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Services Agency (NIMET), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
“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 per cent from the internally generated revenue of the agencies mentioned above through exemption.
“All efforts on our part have failed to impress 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 warned that critical safety operations within these agencies are already being compromised due to the financial strain caused by the deductions. They cautioned that they would not be held responsible if the aviation industry becomes dysfunctional as a result of these financial constraints.
“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 stated.
In preparation for the protest, the unions have instructed all state councils, women’s commissions, youth councils, and branches across the country to fully mobilize and ensure widespread participation.
However, the NCAA has issued a warning that the planned strike could severely disrupt airport operations nationwide.
