Keyamo Appeals to aviation workers to halt protest

In response to the announcement by aviation workers’ unions to protest President Bola Tinubu’s government’s withdrawal of 50% of all internally generated revenue of aviation agencies, the minister made the call in a statement he personally signed and released on Friday. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has urged aviation employees to keep their planned statewide protest against the Nigerian government’s 50% withholding from the internally produced revenue of aviation agencies a secret.

In a statement that he personally signed and released on Friday, the minister made the request in response to the aviation industry’s workers’ unions’ call to protest the President Bola Tinubu government’s withholding of 50% of all internally produced revenue.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and the National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) announced in unison that they would be holding nonviolent demonstrations at airports throughout Nigeria, according to a report published by SaharaReporters.

The protests, which are planned for Wednesday, August 21, 2024, are intended to demand an end to the agencies’ 50% internal revenue deduction policy, which the workers claim compromises the agencies’ operational effectiveness and financial stability.
“We recognize the critical role that our aviation workforce plays in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and smooth operation of the industry,” Keyamo stated, acknowledging the gravity of the issues brought up. “The Ministry is dedicated to tackling these issues in a way that preserves the highest standards of service delivery while guaranteeing the sector’s ongoing sustainability and viability. “His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very concerned about improving the aviation sector.

The Honourable Minister wishes to assure workers’ unions and other stakeholders that he will give their demands due consideration with the goal of finding a lasting solution that balances both the government’s fiscal needs and the Aviation Agencies’ operational requirements.”

“While the government works diligently to find a peaceful solution, we urge all workers to maintain industrial peace and remain composed. “The Ministry is grateful for their understanding and patience, and it is still dedicated to making sure that everyone may work in a comfortable setting. “We appreciate the employees’ patience and unwavering commitment to the aviation industry.”