2 months ago
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Aviation unions across Nigeria have suspended their planned peaceful protest against the Federal Government’s continued deduction of 50 per cent from the internally generated revenue of aviation agencies slated for Wednesday.
The unions said the continued deduction of the aviation agencies’ revenue was posing a threat to the safety of the industry.
The unions, which announced their planned protest five days ago, called the action off about nine hours before the protest day.
Also in August, the unions planned to stage a nationwide protest to press home their demand over the same issue but they backtracked.
The unions made the August announcement in a letter dated August 14, titled, “Save Aviation from Collapse”, but aborted the plan days later.
When the protest was announced, a statement was 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.
But when the action was called off, only the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers announced the discontinuation of the planned protest, while others internally communicated the development to their chapters and members.
According to NAAPE in a statement signed by its president on Tuesday, the protest is suspended pending the determination of an ongoing discussion 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 also contacted the Deputy Secretary of ATSSSAN, confirmed to our correspondent that the protest had been suspended.
Members in other unions also told our correspondent separately that the protest had been suspended.
