Aviation workers in Nigeria have suspended their planned protest, initially slated for September 19, 2024, in response to the Federal Government’s policy of deducting 50% from the internally generated revenues of aviation agencies.
The decision to call off the protest was following an ongoing discussion between government authorities and the aviation sector over the controversial deduction policy.
The affected agencies include the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
The aviation workers were informed of the suspension in a statement dated September 17, 2024, and signed by Olayinka Abioye, the General Secretary of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
“Subsequent upon information available to us about an ongoing discussion by higher authorities over the continued deductions of 50% by the Federal Government, I hasten to inform our esteemed members that the planned protest scheduled for 19/09/2024 is at this moment suspended pending the outcome of these discussions which we shall communicate appropriately to you all,” the statement read.
Last week, aviation unions criticised the Federal Government for refusing to reverse the deduction policy, which they argued was crippling the operations of the aviation sector.
The unions had threatened to take action unless the policy was reversed, raising concerns over the sustainability of key aviation agencies under the financial strain.
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