The National Union of Air Transport Employees has raised the alarm over the alleged non-remittance of about ₦25bn in Ticket Sales Charges, warning that the development is weakening aviation agencies and putting workers’ welfare and operations at risk.
The NUATE Chairman in the Federal Capital Territory, Ahmed Yusuf, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
Yusuf said the money represented the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge collected from passengers and meant to be distributed among relevant aviation agencies.
He alleged that the failure of airline operators to remit the charges had deprived the agencies of revenue needed to fund their operations, sustain essential services and meet their obligations to workers.
According to him, the continued withholding of the funds could undermine the financial sustainability of aviation agencies and further strain an already challenged sector.
“Their failure to remit the funds has deprived aviation agencies of revenue needed to meet their operational responsibilities and workers’ welfare,” Yusuf said.
He questioned how the agencies could effectively perform their statutory responsibilities if revenues meant to support their operations were allegedly not being remitted.
“So how do you want the industry to be sustainable? How do you want workers’ welfare in these agencies to survive?” he asked.
Yusuf stressed that the revenue was necessary for agencies to meet running costs, provide effective services and maintain the welfare of their employees.
The allegation comes amid renewed tensions between aviation unions and airline operators over workers’ rights, unionisation and financial obligations in the sector.
Yusuf also confirmed that the recent industrial action by NUATE and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria had been suspended following engagements aimed at resolving the disputes.
The industrial action had disrupted flight operations, with unions reportedly shutting terminal entrances at some airports, resulting in flight cancellations before the action was suspended.
Yusuf said another major issue that triggered the dispute was the alleged refusal of Air Peace to allow its employees to unionise.
He said the unions were demanding respect for workers’ constitutional right to freedom of association and collective representation.
According to him, airline operators had platforms through which they protected their collective interests, making it necessary for workers to enjoy the same right to organise and negotiate collectively.
The dispute had prompted the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to appeal to the unions to suspend the industrial action and embrace dialogue.
The NCAA Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, said the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, was working to resolve the issues.
Najomo expressed concern about the impact of the industrial action on passengers and other aviation stakeholders, noting that a meeting convened by the minister could not hold because some airline operators failed to attend.
The NCAA assured passengers that flight safety remained uncompromised, stressing that it continued to discharge its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.
The authority also urged all parties to return to the negotiating table to resolve the disputes and restore stability to the aviation industry.
Similarly, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria assured travellers that airport operations would continue despite the labour dispute.
FAAN said it was monitoring developments and working with aviation agencies, airlines, security agencies and other stakeholders to minimise the impact of the disagreement on passengers.
The authority also expressed support for efforts by Keyamo and other stakeholders to resolve the dispute.
The alleged ₦25bn in unremitted ticket levies has now added a major financial dimension to the industrial disagreement, with the union insisting that proper remittance of aviation-sector revenues is essential to sustaining the agencies responsible for keeping the industry running.
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