Aviation workers across Nigeria will stage a nationwide protest on August 21, 2024, to express their strong opposition to the Federal Government’s ongoing deduction of 50% from the internally generated revenue (IGR) of key aviation agencies.
The announcement was made in a letter titled “Save Aviation From Collapse,” dated August 14, 2024, and distributed to the press on Thursday. The affected agencies include the Nigerian Federal Airports Authority (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
The letter stated, “On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, all airports nationwide will witness peaceful protests by all workers of the NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, NiMet, NCAT, and NSIB, united by the solidarity of all aviation workers, demanding the reversal of the 50% deduction from the internally generated revenue of the aforementioned agencies.”
The unions emphasized that they have made numerous efforts to convince the Federal Government that these agencies are cost-recovery entities rather than profit-making ones, but their appeals have been unsuccessful. As a result, workers are struggling to sustain themselves on half of their salaries under the current administrative model.
The unions also warned that the financial strain caused by these deductions is already affecting critical safety operations within the agencies. They cautioned that they would not be held responsible if these budgetary constraints lead to a crisis in the aviation sector.
