Aviation workers across Nigeria are planning to hold a nationwide protest on August 21, 2024. The protest is in response to the Federal Government’s ongoing deduction of 50% from the internally generated revenue of key aviation agencies.

The unions representing the workers made this announcement in a letter dated August 14, 2024, titled “Preserving the Stability of the Aviation Industry.” The letter was released to journalists on Thursday.

The affected agencies include the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

The letter states, "All workers of”the NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, NiMet, NCAT, and NSIB, with the unwavering support of all aviation workers, are hereby directed to participate in peaceful protests at all airports nationwide on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. The purpose of these protests is to demand the immediate cessation of the 50% deduction from the internally generated revenue of the aforementioned agencies through exemption.”

“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, organisations. As such they cannot survive on half of their incomes under any model of administration or any other guise whatsoever.”

The unions have expressed concerns that essential safety operations within these agencies are currently being jeopardized as a result of the financial pressures caused by the deductions.

They have also indicated that they cannot be held liable if the aviation sector experiences dysfunction as a consequence of these financial limitations.

“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,” they added.

In preparation for the demonstration, the unions have instructed all state councils, women’s commissions, youth councils, and branches of their unions nationwide to fully mobilize and ensure broad participation.