The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), a major aviation union in the country, has called for a forensic audit of the Nigeria Air project, which was suspended by the current Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo.
The Nigeria Air project was one of the flagship projects of the previous administration in the aviation sector, but it was put on hold by Keyamo, who said President Bola Tinubu has the final say on the matter.
Speaking at the 11th Quadrennial National Delegates’ Conference in Benin, Edo State, on Thursday, the President of NUATE, Comrade Ben Nnabue, urged the Minister of Aviation to review the national carrier project and present it for implementation.
He said the project was vital for the growth of Nigerian aviation and should not be undermined. He also demanded that the project be redesigned to benefit all stakeholders and meet the needs of the industry and the nation.
The union also threatened to stage protests over the continuous deduction of 40 per cent from the revenue of the aviation agencies, saying it was detrimental to the industry.
He said the deductions were unsustainable and would lead to the collapse of the agencies, which would have a negative impact on the national economy.
He appealed to President Tinubu and the Minister of Finance to stop the double deductions and grant special waivers to the aviation agencies, which he said were essential for them to perform their statutory duties. He expressed his hope that his appeal would be heeded in the national interest.
