A fresh trouble is brewing across the country’s aviation sector as key players are set to ground activities in all the airports come September 18, 2024.
The showdown is as a result of the continuous deduction of 50 per cent from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the aviation agencies by the federal government.
The aviation unions had earlier announced their plans to embark on a protest on September 18th over the same issue.
Latest to declare their determination to shutdown airport activities on the same day in protest against the 50 percent IGR deductions is the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).
In a statement issued by the President of NATCA, Comrade Abayomi Agoro on behalf of the Air traffic Controllers, the association are demanding for the immediate exemption of the aviation agencies from 50% IGR Deduction.
According to the statement: “The Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), representing the collective interests of all Air Traffic Control professionals in Nigeria, wishes to draw urgent attention to the Federal Government’s ongoing 50% deduction from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of aviation agencies. This policy is severely undermining the safety and efficiency of Nigeria aviation sector.
“We want to place it on record that the safety-critical activities of the entire aviation sector are slowly grinding to a halt, reaching levels that are unacceptable. The agencies within the sector are financially constrained, rendering the sector dysfunctional. This alarming situation, if left unaddressed, poses significant risks to the safety and operational effectiveness of Nigerian airspace.
“It should also be on record that NATCA will not assume responsibility should a strain on the sector’s safety and operational needs result in any critical incident or accident. The continued financial constraints imposed by these deductions are compromising our ability to deliver safe, efficient air traffic control services.
“Considering these developments, NATCA’s Council, by this press release, places all Air Traffic Controllers on notice that our mother union has directed a nationwide protest Effective from “0000 hours on the 18th of September 2024”, all controllers are to comply with the instructions from our mother union until further notice.
“Further instructions will be communicated in due course through the Secretariat. We call on the Federal Government to act swiftly to exempt aviation agencies from the IGR deduction policy and address the financial challenges threatening the safety and functionality of Nigeria’s airspace.”
