Aviation workers threaten nationwide strike over 50% revenue deductions

Aviation workers across Nigeria are set to stage a nationwide protest on August 21, 2024, in response to the Federal Government’s continued deduction of 50 per cent from the internally generated revenue of key aviation agencies.

The unions made this announcement in a letter dated August 14 2024, titled, “Save Aviation From Collapse” and released to journalists on Thursday.

The affected agencies include the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.

The letter 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.

“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 warned that critical safety activities within these agencies are already being compromised due to the financial strain imposed by the deductions.

They cautioned that they would not be held responsible if the aviation industry becomes dysfunctional due to 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 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 fully mobilise and ensure widespread participation.