Realising the enormous constraints into which the compulsory deduction from the Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) of the aviation agencies has put the performance of the statutory agencies, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has unequivocally called for the exemption of the aviation agencies from the deduction of 50% of their IGR under the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
According to the association, since the agencies were not established for profit making, stifling them of the required funds will jeopardize the effective performances of their safety and security mandatory, and endanger the provision of critical services that may endanger the safety and security of civil aviation in Nigeria.
ATSSSAN made the declaration at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting with the theme: ‘Challenges of labour unions in a depressing economy:Nigeria aviation sector in view’, held in Ibadan.
The NEC-in-session warned that if the federal government insists on the deduction, thereby compounding the current financial state of the agencies, that it may be forced to direct all aviation workers to down tools until the government reverses itself.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, ATSSSAN declared: “Our Union noted that the recently released conditions of service of the aviation agencies are out of tune with current economic and allied realities having been held by relevant agencies for over seven years since submission.”
The NEC though noted the pledge made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo to take measures for ameliorating the hardship faced by aviation workers, but regretted that nothing has come out of the minister’s promise.
The association however reminded the minister of the need to direct the various agencies to set up committees for the immediate review of the various conditions of service (CoS) to prevent imminent industrial action in the industry as aviation workers are ready to take their destinies in their hands.
Commending the federal government for reversing itself from the relocation of the Headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to Abuja, the union advised that to ensure a sustainable and seamless relocation in the future, the government should as a matter of urgency ensure the provision of necessary infrastructure (including offices and befitting staff accommodation for FAAN in the Federal Capital Territory).
Recognizing that the specks over airports concession are a little settled for now, the union while stating that it’s major interest remains a concrete resolution of every contending labour issues if airport concession remains a government policy, cited some of the labour issues to include the problem of ongoing pension computations of FAAN staff which has become almost intractable for FAAN Management.
“It is also necessary to remind ourselves that the actuarial valuation for FAAN staff as of 2021 was around ₦154 billion. NEC wishes to reiterate that only a transparent concession process that accommodates the contributions of FAAN Management in the exercise, and above all, the resolution of all labour issues will be acceptable to entire FAAN workers.”
The Union also expressed its appreciation to the Federal Government for the payment of the exit benefits of the ex-Nigeria Airways staff thus far, calling for expedite actions on the payment of the outstanding ₦34Billion to the beneficiaries as some of them are dying due to lack of finances to take care of their health needs.
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