Aviation workers set to ground flights with nationwide strike over revenue deductions

Nigeria’s aviation sector is set to face major disruptions as workers’ unions have announced a strike commencing on September 18, following the Federal Government’s refusal to reverse a 50% deduction policy from the internally generated revenues of key agencies.

The unions, representing critical aviation bodies such as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, claim the deductions have crippled the financial stability of these institutions.

Leaders of five unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, warned that vital safety operations are already being compromised due to the ongoing financial strain.

The statement read in part, “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, organizations. As such they cannot survive on half of their incomes under any model of administration or any other guise whatsoever. The ultimatum given to the Minister of Aviation on the same has expired since the end of August 2024.

“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 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.”