It has been mandated that the Federal Government conduct a forensic assessment of Nigeria Air, the national carrier project that went belly up.
The union has also vowed to mobilize its members in protest of the Federal Government’s ongoing withholding of 40% from the money generated by some aviation companies into Treasury Single Accounts (TSAs).
The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) President, Comrade Ben Nnabue, made these remarks today in Benin, Edo State, at the 11th Quadrennial National Delegates, which is now underway with the theme “A New Partnership For Aviation Development.”
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Nnabue however said that the project was good for the image of the country, but must be remoulded for the benefits of all.
He said: ” I wish to humbly urge the Honourable Minister of Aviation to carry out a forensic audit on the national carrier project, recast the general directions and represent them for delivery.
” It is important to state that the national carrier project is exceedingly vital to the growth of Nigerian aviation. The delivery should therefore, not be undermined. We demand that the project be remolded to be of benefit to all stakeholders and fit the needs of the industry and national.”
Nnabue further drew the attention of the Federal Government to the present precarious financial state of affairs of the aviation agencies brought about by the implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
He emphasised that the continuous deduction of 40 per cent at source from all revenues accruing to the agencies was unhealthy to the industry.
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He decried that this is further worsened by instances of multiple deductions.
“At the current revenue levels vis-à-vis expenditure levels, and recognising the high level of regulation in the industry, it is impossible for any of the agencies to sustain its operation under the present yoke of the Act.
“If the deductions continue, it is most certain that the agencies will collapse, which will spell heavy crisis for the national economy. May I, therefore, use this medium to appeal to President Bola Tinubu and the Hon. Minister of Finance to first stop the double deductions, then grant special waivers to the aviation agencies without which the sector will be unable to perform their statutory duties. It is my fervent hope that this appeal will be heeded in national in
