Aviation unions in the country have called on President Bola Tinubu to halt the 40% reduction of agencies internally generated revenue, IGR to avert the immediate collapse of their operations.
In a letter dated 19th June, 2023 and addressed to President Tinubu, the five unions say, all the aviation agencies are merely cost recovery organizations and non-profit and therefore, deduction of 40% from their financial accruals is akin to removal of life support from the agencies.
The letter signed by the General Secretaries of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE); Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) ; Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP); National Association of Aircraft Pilot and Engineers (NAAPE) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), appealed for exemption of aviation agencies from the deduction to preserve the vital safety functions of the same agencies without which the industry will collapse with its catastrophic impact on national economy.
“This plea is predicated on the need to avert imminent danger that will befall the aviation sector in the event that the aviation agencies become incapacitated and unable to render their safety related functions”.
“This is because, even the full financial accruals of the agencies are grossly inadequate in meeting the financial obligations of the agencies, and are normally supplemented by the Federal Government on annual basis”.
The unions also in the letter, urged the President to look into the staff Conditions of Service (CoS) of Aviation Agencies who have been operating without valid staff Conditions of Service (CoS) for many years.
According to the unions, for the past decade, they have cried over this matter but to no avail, adding that despite several interventions by the then Minister of Aviation and the Minister of Labour, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Head of Service of the Federation; Chairman Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and Director General, Budget Office have remained unperturbed and remorseless on the issue.
“We feel restrained by the fact of the newness of your administration, and the likelihood of misinterpretation of any strike action against the government in our airports at this critical point in time. On the other hand we are under severe pressure to secure amelioration of this impasse by the long suffering of the affected hapless workers”.
“Your Excellency Sir, it is because of the above that our Unions passionately and humbly seek your golden intervention to call to order all the agencies involved that are using the instrumentality of government to wreak havoc and cause untold hardship on our members in the aviation industry”.