The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has pleaded with aviation workers to shelve their planned protest.
Aviation workers had announced plans to shut down airports across Nigeria on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 over the Federal Government’s 50% reduction in their revenue.
The workers announced their plan to protest in a circular dated Wednesday, August 14, 2024 and signed by Comrades Ocheme Aba, Frances Akinjole, Abdul Rasaq Saidu, Sikiru Waheed and Olayinka Abioye.
The affected agencies include the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NMA), the 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 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 discontinuaton of deduction of 50% from the internally generated revenue of the agencies mentioned above through exemption,” the circular read.
“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 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.”
In a statement posted on the X account of NCAA, Keyamo pleaded with the aviation workers not to go ahead with their planned protest.
He said the concerns of the workers, especially regarding the negative impact these deductions have on investment, maintenance of critical infrastructure, and overall operations of the agencies, have been duly noted.
Keyamo said his ministry understands the significance of the issues raised and recognizes the vital role that the aviation workforce plays in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and smooth operation of the industry.
“The ministry is committed to addressing these challenges in a manner that ensures the continued viability and sustainability of the sector while maintaining the highest standards of service delivery,” he said.
The minister assured the workers’ unions and other stakeholders that President Bola Tinubu is very concerned about the improvement of the aviation sector and will give their demands due consideration, with the goal of finding a lasting solution that balances both the fiscal needs of the government and the operational requirements of the aviation agencies.
“We appeal to all workers to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the government is working assiduously towards amicably resolving the matter,” Keyamo said.
“The ministry appreciates their patience and understanding and remains committed to ensuring a conducive work environment for all.
“We thank the workers for their understanding and continued dedication to the aviation sector.”
