The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for calm among aviation workers, promising that the Federal Government will work towards a resolution that addresses both its fiscal needs and the operational requirements of the Aviation Agencies.
This appeal came in response to a potential protest by aviation unions across the country.
According to The PUNCH, Keyamo issued a statement on Friday, expressing his understanding of the unions’ concerns.
The unions had recently criticized the ongoing 50 percent revenue deduction imposed on federal government agencies overseeing and regulating the aviation industry.
These agencies include the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau.
The unions argue that this deduction is severely impacting the agencies’ operations.
In light of this, the National Air Transport Employees, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Practitioners, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, and the Air Transports Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria have planned a nationwide protest to urge the government to reverse the deduction policy.
Keyamo acknowledged the unions’ grievances and emphasized that resolving the 50 percent deduction issue is a priority.
He assured that President Bola Tinubu is aware of the situation and is committed to addressing the concerns of the aviation sector.
“We understand the significance of the issues raised and recognize the vital role that our aviation workforce plays in ensuring the industry’s safety, efficiency, and smooth operation. The Ministry is committed to addressing these challenges to ensure the continued viability and sustainability of the sector while maintaining the highest standards of service delivery.
“The Honourable Minister wishes to assure the workers’ Unions and other stakeholders that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very concerned about the improvement of the Aviation sector and will give their demands due consideration to find a lasting solution that balances both the fiscal needs of the government and the operational requirements of the Aviation Agencies,” the statement said.
The minister further urged workers to stay calm and maintain industrial peace while the government works on resolving the issue.
