Aviation unions in Nigeria are threatening a nationwide shutdown of airport operations over the financial strain caused by a 50% deduction from their internally generated revenue. The unions argue that the deductions are pushing key aviation agencies toward insolvency and crippling their ability to carry out critical safety operations.
The unions involved in the protest include the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN). They plan to begin a nationwide protest on September 18, 2024, demanding an exemption from the 50% revenue deductions.
In a joint letter titled “Save Aviation from Collapse,” union leaders—Ocheme Aba, Abdul Rasaq Saidu, Francis Akinjole, Olayinka Abioye, and Sikiru Waheed—called for peaceful protests at all airports across the country. The unions represent workers from major aviation bodies, including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
According to the unions, critical safety activities at FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, and NiMet have already been compromised due to the severe financial constraints caused by the revenue cuts. They stressed that the agencies are designed for cost recovery, not profit-making, and cannot function effectively on just half of their revenue.
Efforts to persuade the Federal Government to reverse the decision have been unsuccessful, and the unions’ ultimatum to the Minister of Aviation expired at the end of August 2024. The unions have warned that if the government does not address their demands, the aviation sector could become dysfunctional due to financial incapacity.
