National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has pulled out of the planned protest scheduled to be held today, September 18, over the 50 per cent deduction from the Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) of aviation agencies by the Federal Government.
The aviation unions, believing that the government’s 50 per cent deduction was impeding the industry’s growth and development, had directed their members to protest at every airport across the nation.
But NAAPE, in a statement, advised its members not to participate in the protest. This, according to its leadership, followed a continuing conversation by higher authorities to address the reason for the protest,
“Consequent upon information available to us about an ongoing discussion by higher authorities over the continued deductions 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 these discussions, which we shall communicate appropriately to you all,” the statement noted.
MEANWHILE, barely one week after the signing of the Cape Town Convention (CTC) Practice Directions, Vice President Kashim Shettima has, again, assured stakeholders in the country’s aviation sector of the Federal Government’s commitment to creating a more conducive and better operating environment for airlines.
Shettima lauded last Thursday’s signing of the CTC Practice Directions, describing it as a major boost for ease of doing business in Nigeria’s aviation industry. He spoke, yesterday, during a meeting with stakeholders in the aviation sector under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting was part of the Federal Government’s bid to address Foreign Exchange issues and the backlog of payments with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Hajj Commission and the Airline Operators of Nigeria.
Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, noted the fragile nature of airline operations, saying: “Airlines are exceptional, and any little thing can take an airline out of the market.”
The Air Peace boss stressed the need for continued support for airlines in line with global practice to ensure the sector’s sustainability and growth. The Special Adviser to the President on PEBEC and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said the meeting was fruitful, and that the Federal Government would continue to explore ways of enhancing the business environment in the country.
