Nigerians may soon face flight disruptions as aviation workers across the country are planning a nationwide strike on August 21, 2024. This strike is a response to the Federal Government’s continued practice of taking 50% of the internally generated revenue (IGR) from major aviation agencies. These agencies include the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and other key organizations responsible for air travel safety and regulation in the country.
The unions representing these workers sent out a letter on August 14, 2024, titled “Save Aviation From Collapse,” where they expressed deep concern about the ongoing cuts. They argued that these deductions are threatening the stability and future of the aviation sector. According to the letter, without adequate funding, the affected agencies will struggle to maintain their operations, which could severely impact flight services across the nation.
The letter 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 per cent from the internally generated revenue of the agencies mentioned above through exemption.
All efforts on our part have failed to impress 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 union added,
“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,”
The workers hope that by going on strike, they can draw attention to these issues and push the government to reconsider its policies. The unions believe that this revenue slash could eventually lead to a collapse in aviation services, affecting both local and international travelers. If no action is taken, Nigerians should brace themselves for flight cancellations and significant delays starting on August 21.
The situation is still unfolding, and both travelers and industry professionals are waiting to see if the Federal Government will engage with the unions to resolve the matter before the strike date.
