Aviation unions threaten strike over 50% TSA deduction

Barring any last-minute changes, unions in the aviation industry may declare an indefinite strike over the decision of the federal government to impose a 50% deduction from the internally generated revenue (IGR) of agencies in the industry.

Our correspondent reports that the general secretaries of the various unions in the sector are set to meet next week in Lagos to take decisive action on the issue.

The federal government, through the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, had directed all partially-funded Federal Government Owned Enterprises (FGOEs) to remit 50 per cent of their internally generated revenues (IGR) to the government coffers. The remittance used to be 25% before it was increased to 40% and now 50%.

Aviation stakeholders have expressed concern over the directive, which they stated posed a threat to aviation agencies in fulfilling their safety-critical obligations.

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However, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) warned that the aviation unions may be compelled to embark on an industrial action to compel the withdrawal of the agencies from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

Speaking during the National Executive Council meeting of the association in Ibadan, the President of ATSSSAN, Barr. Ahmadu Illitrus, disclosed that the general-secretaries of the major unions in the sector in Nigeria had been mandated to meet next week to deliberate on the issue and give feedback to the presidents of their unions.

Four aviation agencies are affected by the TSA policy including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).

Illitrus stated that the agencies in the sector were not revenue-generating organisations and so they should not be treated as such.

He also warned that if the aviation agencies were not removed, it may affect the forthcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) security audit.