Aviation workers’ unions have urged the federal government not to abolish the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC).
The unions demanded that airlines that collected the statutory levy from passengers but failed to remit it should face appropriate sanctions.
They made the demands at a news conference in Lagos on Friday, with the theme: “Playing Games with National Security: The Aviation Sector.”
The conference was jointly addressed by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).
Aba Ocheme, deputy general secretary of ANAP, said that any review of aviation charges must follow transparent statutory procedures, with the full participation of aviation agencies, labour unions and other stakeholders.
Mr Ocheme noted that this should be done rather than what was described as a reward for airlines’ failure to remit collected funds.
He said the unions were demanding that all outstanding TSC collected from passengers be remitted immediately, with appropriate sanctions imposed on defaulting airlines.
He said that the unions’ demands followed concerns over an alleged move by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to consider the abolition of TSC and CSC.
He expressed concern that the reported move could undermine the statutory funding of aviation agencies while shifting attention from the Aug. 11 incident involving Air Peace at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
He recalled that the unions had embarked on industrial action against Air Peace over its alleged refusal to allow workers to join trade unions and its failure to remit TSC and CSC collected on behalf of aviation agencies.
He said the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), led to the suspension of the action against Air Peace and other planned industrial actions against affected airlines.
However, he alleged that Air Peace subsequently deployed five branded buses to block an aircraft manoeuvring area and taxiway at the airport in protest against the industrial action.
Mr Ocheme described the incident as a serious aviation safety and national security breach, alleging that it exposed moving aircraft to danger.
He said Air Peace had reported the unions to the Inspector-General of Police and instituted legal action at the National Industrial Court. He added that the airline had withdrawn from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s regulatory investigation into the incident.
He argued that the NCAA had the statutory responsibility to investigate aviation safety and security breaches, while the police handled the criminal aspects.
Explaining the importance of TSC, Mr Ocheme said it was a statutory charge paid by passengers and collected by airlines on behalf of the Federal Government for distribution among the NCAA, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and other agencies.
He said the funds supported the agencies’ regulatory oversight, air navigation, weather forecasting, accident investigation and training responsibilities.
According to him, abolishing the charge without an alternative funding arrangement could weaken the operational capacity of the agencies and compromise aviation safety.
He also announced plans to approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to request a forensic audit of Air Peace’s funding.
He cited questions surrounding the airline’s ownership and financial backing.
Mr Ocheme also called on the airline to allow its workers their right to association.
He called on the NSA to conclude and make public its investigation into the Aug. 11 incident, insisting that no airline should be above the law.
He also appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the NSA and the aviation minister to intervene in the matter.
Mr Ocheme warned that the unions would continue to pursue the matter through lawful engagements, petitions and, if necessary, industrial action.
The general secretaries of NUATE and ATSSSAN, Paul Igene and Francis Akinjole, respectively, were present at the conference.
(NAN)
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