The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for calm among aviation employees, pledging that the federal government would seek a solution that would meet the needs of the aviation agencies in terms of both finances and operations.
This follows the planned protest by aviation unions across the country.
Keyamo disclosed this in a statement on Friday via his official X handle, expressing his understanding of the unions’ concerns.
The unions had recently condemned the ongoing 50 per cent 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.
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.
As a result, a nationwide protest has been planned by 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 to force a reversal of the deduction policy by the government.
In the statement, Keyamo recognized the unions’ grievances and emphasized that resolving the 50 percent deduction issue is a priority.
He assured the aviation employees that President Tinubu is aware of the situation and dedicated to resolving the aviation industry’s concerns
“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.
He further called on workers to maintain industrial peace while the government works diligently to find solution.
