A national strike by aviation workers’ unions is set to bring all airports across the country to a standstill starting September 18. This action follows the Federal Government’s refusal to reverse the contentious 50 percent revenue deduction policy imposed on aviation agencies.
The announcement, made through a statement on Thursday, outlines the unions’ grievances and their resolve to take action. Key representatives from various aviation unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, emphasized the urgency of the situation.
The unions are protesting against the financial strain caused by the deductions affecting vital agencies such as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. Initially introduced as a 25 percent deduction in October 2022, the policy escalated to 40 percent before President Bola Tinubu raised it to 50 percent in January 2024.
Leaders of the unions have expressed serious concerns regarding the impact of these deductions on crucial safety operations, warning that they could compromise aviation safety standards. They stated that the ongoing financial constraints could render the aviation industry dysfunctional, a risk they do not intend to shoulder.
In their statement, the unions affirmed, “All efforts on our part have failed to impress upon the Federal Government that all the Agencies are cost recovery, and not profit-making organizations. They cannot survive on half of their incomes.”
The unions have called for mobilization of all State Councils, Women Commissions, Youth Councils, and branches to ensure the success of their planned peaceful protests nationwide. The ultimatum given to the Minister of Aviation expired at the end of August 2024, indicating that time is running out for a resolution.
