Total indebtedness of the domestic airlines to FAAN alone is N22 billion while other agencies are owed N8 billion.
The sector just got respite with the return of tanker drivers from along the busy Oshodi-Apapa Expressway to the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos access road.
To push the protest, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) are currently mobilising their members in all the agencies for a protest scheduled for next Tuesday at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos airport.
An official of NUATE, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the unions decided for the protest to draw the government’s attention to the challenges in the sector.
Huge debt overhang of the domestic airlines have crippled the agencies’ responsibilities as required by their enabling Acts.
An airline was alleged of owing all the agencies, NAMA, FAAN and NCAA about N5 billion.
Besides, the unions have reservations on the recent recruitment in FAAN and NCAA which they alleged is lopsided in the past three years.
They alleged that politicians were recruited into top position at the expense of young graduates, a situation that has stunted the growth of the sector.
While they agreed to the government’s prerogative of transferring or redeploying staff within the industry, they held reservations on alleged ‘unscrupulous and unwholesome’ engagement of persons.
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