Flight disruptions loom as Nigerian aviation unions plan nationwide protest 

There may be flight cancellations and delays in the coming days over plans by aviation unions to commence nationwide protests.

The protests are expected to affect airport operations nationwide, as workers demonstrate their frustration and call for the reversal of the policy.

In a united stance, employees of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and the National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) are set to stage peaceful protests at airports across Nigeria.

The protests, scheduled for Wednesday, August 21, 2024, are organised to demand an end to the 50 per cent deduction from the internally generated revenue of the agencies, a policy the workers argue undermines their operational efficiency and financial stability.

This was disclosed in a joint statement signed on Wednesday by  Ocheme Aba, General Secretary of NUATE; Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu, Secretary General of ANAP; Comrade Sikiru Waheed, General Secretary of AUPCTRE; Comrade Frances Akinjole, Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN; and Comrade Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary of NAAPE.

The protests are expected to affect airport operations nationwide, as workers demonstrate their frustration and call for the reversal of the policy.

The statement reads, “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 stated that information available to them indicates that some important safety-critical activities of the agencies are grinding to a halt under the burden 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 mobilise for, and ensure full compliance and success of the peaceful protests,” the statement adds.