Tinubu Approves Reduction Of IGR From Aviation Agencies To 20%
From MORRIS ODENG, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved the reduction of the deduction from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) due to the federal government from government aviation agencies from 50 to 20 percent.
The various aviation unions’ leaderships are currently meeting with the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take a position on the new development.
Aviation unions were to commence nationwide protests over the 50 percent deduction from the internally generated revenue of the agencies, a policy the workers argue undermines their operational efficiency and financial stability.
The protests were expected to affect airport operations nationwide, as workers demonstrated their frustration and called for the policy reversal.
Inside deal that led to $100 million presidential jet seizure
Nigeria eyes domestic, foreign capital with $500 million tax-exempt bond.
In a united stance, employees of 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 National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) were set to stage peaceful protests at airports across Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a joint statement signed on Wednesday by Ocheme Aba, General Secretary of NUATE; Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu, Secretary General of ANAP; Comrade Sikiru Waheed, General Secretary of AUPCTRE; Comrade Frances Akinjole, Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN; and Comrade Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary of NAAPE
Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has appealed to aviation workers to stop their planned protest over the federal government’s deduction of 50 percent of all internally generated revenue of Aviation Agencies at the source.
The Minister said concerns of the workers, especially regarding the negative impact the deductions have on investment, maintenance of critical infrastructure, and overall operations of the Agencies, have been duly noted.
He added that President Bola Tinubu would give their demands due consideration as he was concerned about the growth in the sector.
The Minister, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, stated: “We understand the significance of the issues raised and recognize the vital role that our aviation workforce plays in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and smooth operation of the industry.
“The Ministry is committed to addressing these challenges in a manner that ensures the continued viability and sustainability of the sector while maintaining the highest standards of service delivery.
“We 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.
“We appeal to all workers to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the Government is working assiduously towards amicably resolving the matter.”
He added that the Ministry appreciates the patience and understanding of the workers and remains committed to ensuring a conducive work environment for all.
The union had, in a letter dated August 14th and titled, “Save Aviation from Collapse- Notice of Nationwide Protest’, directed all aviation workers to embark on a nationwide peaceful protest on 21st August.
The unions are the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN) the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE); the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Services Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).
The letter reads: “All workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA); Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET); Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), joined by solidarity of all aviation workers are hereby directed to embark on peaceful protests at all airports nationwide on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 to demand the discontinuation of deduction of 50 percent from the internally generated revenue of the agencies mentioned above through exemption.
“All efforts on our part have failed to impress 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.
“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.”