LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Aviation unions in Nigeria have called off their scheduled peaceful protest, which was planned for Wednesday.
The protest was planned against the Federal Government’s continued 50 percent deduction from the internally generated revenue of aviation agencies.
The unions expressed concern that the ongoing deductions are jeopardizing the safety of the industry.
Although the protest was announced five days ago, the unions decided to suspend the action approximately nine hours before it was set to take place.
In August, the unions also planned a nationwide protest over the same issue but later withdrew their plans.
The unions had initially announced their August protest in a letter dated August 14, titled “Save Aviation from Collapse,” but called off the plan a few days later.
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At the time of the announcement, a statement was issued and signed by the General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Ocheme Aba, and the Deputy General Secretary of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Frances Akinjole.
Others who signed it were the Secretary General of ANAP, Abdul Rasaq; the General Secretary of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Olayinka Abioye; and the General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Sikiru Waheed.
However, when the protest was called off, only the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) publicly announced the cancellation, while other unions communicated the decision internally to their chapters and members.
In a statement signed by its president on Tuesday, NAAPE stated that the protest has been suspended, pending the outcome of ongoing discussions between the government and the unions.
The statement reads, “Consequent upon information available to us about an ongoing discussion by higher authorities over the continued deduction of 50 per cent by the Federal Government, I hasten to inform our esteemed members that the planned protest scheduled for 18/09/2024 is hereby suspended pending the outcome of the discussion which we shall communicate appropriately to you all.”
When contacted, the Deputy Secretary of ATSSSAN confirmed that the protest had been called off.
Members of other unions also individually informed our correspondent that the protest had been suspended.