NCAA, FAAN, Other Agencies workers set to Protest 50% Revenue Deductions
Aviation workers’ unions have announced plans to stage a peaceful protest over the Federal Government’s decision to maintain a 50% deduction from the internally generated revenue of agencies in the sector. This deduction stems from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, which was initially introduced in October 2022 with a 25% deduction from revenue-generating federal agencies. However, the deduction was soon increased to 40%, and in January 2024, the current administration raised it further to 50%.
The unions have scheduled the protest for September 18, 2024, according to a statement signed by key union leaders, including Ocheme Aba, General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE); Frances Akinjole, Deputy General Secretary of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN); and Sikiru Waheed, General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).
The unions explained that the protest is driven by the government’s refusal to reverse the 50% deduction policy, which they argue threatens the financial viability of aviation agencies such as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
“All workers of the NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, NiMet, NCAT, and NSIB are hereby directed to embark on peaceful protests at all airports nationwide on September 18, 2024, to demand the discontinuation of the 50% deduction from their internally generated revenue,” the statement read.
The unions further emphasized that their efforts to convince the government that these agencies are cost-recovery entities, not profit-making organizations, have been unsuccessful. They argue that no model of administration can sustain these agencies if half of their income is taken away. The unions had previously given an ultimatum to the Minister of Aviation, which expired at the end of August 2024, but no action was taken.
