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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), has called for restraint from aviation unions, threatening to protest the deduction by the Federal Government of half of the revenue generated by the various agencies in the sector.
Keyamo promised that the Federal Government would find a lasting solution that balanced both the government’s fiscal needs and the aviation agencies’ operational requirements.
The appeal is contained in a statement personally signed by the minister on Friday, obtained by Persecondnews in Abuja.
Persecondnews recalls that the unions yesterday denounced the practice of the government deducting half of the revenue generated by the agencies responsible for managing and regulating the aviation industry.
The agencies are 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 claim that the deduction has pushed the agencies to the brink of collapse, prompting a coalition of aviation unions, including the National Air Transport Employees, Association of Nigeria Aviation Practitioners, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees and the Air Transports Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, to plan a nationwide protest to pressure the
government to reverse the decision.
Keyamo acknowledged the legitimacy of the unions’ concerns and assured that the 50% deduction issue would be addressed with the utmost priority and urgency.
To ease the tension and prevent industrial action, the minister informed the unions that President Bola Tinubu is aware of the aviation sector’s challenges and has assured that their concerns will receive prompt attention and consideration.
He said: “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.
“We appeal to all workers to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the government is working assiduously towards amicably resolving the matter.”
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