BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has joined a legion of stakeholders to call for the immediate exemption of aviation agencies from the Federal Government’s 50% deduction on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The association, in a statement signed by its National President, NATCA, Mr. Abayomi Agoro, warned that the continued enforcement of the policy is crippling the safety and operational efficiency of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The association emphasised that the current financial situation has brought the sector to a perilous point, where safety-critical activities were being severely undermined.
According to Agoro, the ongoing IGR deductions have created substantial financial constraints for agencies, leading to operational dysfunction that endangers the entire airspace.
“We are witnessing a gradual breakdown in the safety infrastructure of the aviation sector.
“The agencies within this sector are starved of the funds needed to ensure safe, effective operations, and this trend, if left unchecked, could have catastrophic consequences for Nigeria’s airspace.”
The association has also made it clear that it cannot be held responsible for any potential incidents resulting from the increasing strain on the sector.
“We want to place it on record that should any critical incident or accident occur as a result of these financial constraints, NATCA will not assume responsibility,” the statement read.
NATCA explained that the financial limitations caused by the IGR deduction have drastically affected their ability to provide efficient and safe air traffic control services, which are integral to the smooth functioning of Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.
The association stressed that aviation agencies need urgent financial reprieve to maintain the high standards of safety and operational performance expected in the sector.
In response to the growing crisis, NATCA has announced plans for a nationwide protest, beginning at 0000 hours on the 18th of September 2024.
Air traffic controllers across the country have been directed to comply with the protest directives from the union until further notice.
NATCA has assured that more information will be communicated through its Secretariat as the situation develops.
The association called on the Federal Government to intervene swiftly by exempting aviation agencies from the IGR deduction policy and addressing the financial hurdles threatening the integrity of Nigeria’s airspace.
According to NATCA, this exemption is crucial to restoring stability and ensuring that the sector continues to meet international safety standards.
The IGR deduction policy, part of the government’s broader fiscal strategy, has faced criticism from various sectors, but its impact on the aviation industry has been particularly severe.
Stakeholders note that aviation, a safety-sensitive industry that relies heavily on both human and technical resources, requires continuous investment to maintain international safety and efficiency standards.
NATCA believes that the government’s failure to exempt aviation agencies from this revenue deduction endangers not only the safety of passengers but also the broader economic viability of the sector.
NATCA’s plea for urgent reform comes amid growing concerns about the sustainability of operations in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Many observers within the industry have noted that further financial strain could lead to operational shutdowns or delays, ultimately causing reputational damage to the country’s aviation industry on a global scale.
With air travel being a critical component of economic development and global integration, the association’s appeal for intervention has sparked widespread discussions about the future of aviation in Nigeria.
