Aviation Workers Call Off Strike as Government Reduces Revenue Deduction Demand

Aviation workers in Nigeria have called off their planned protest over the Federal Government’s demand for a 50 per cent revenue collection from aviation agencies. The strike, which was scheduled to take place today (Wednesday), was cancelled following a directive from the government aimed at easing tensions within the sector.

Nnadi Hector, Secretary of the Joint Aviation Trade Unions Forum, announced the decision to suspend the protest, explaining that the action was a response to a recent government directive. Hector emphasized that previous demonstrations by aviation unions were peaceful and intended to draw attention to the significant challenges faced by the industry.

“Aviation all over the world is a service industry; magnanimously, the President intervened, though we have not seen a letter,” Hector stated, acknowledging the government’s move. He noted that, despite the President being out of the country, he had issued a directive reducing the revenue deduction from 50 per cent to 20 per cent. “So it is a good step in the right direction,” Hector added.

This development comes just a week after aviation workers across Nigeria threatened to embark on a nationwide protest, set to begin on August 21, 2024. The planned industrial action was in response to the Federal Government’s continued deduction of 50 per cent from the internally generated revenue of key aviation agencies, a move unions argued would cripple the sector.

The unions had formally announced their intention to protest in a letter dated August 14, 2024, titled “Save Aviation From Collapse.” The letter outlined their concerns about the financial viability of the aviation industry under the current revenue deduction policy.

With the President’s intervention leading to a reduction in the revenue collection demand, the unions have expressed cautious optimism, viewing the adjustment as a positive step towards addressing their grievances. The cancellation of the strike is seen as a temporary reprieve, allowing further dialogue between the government and aviation stakeholders to ensure the sector’s sustainability.