Finalise TSC Debt Repayment Plan In 7 Days, FG Orders Airlines

The federal government has given airlines seven days to agree with aviation agencies on realistic repayment plans for their outstanding Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) obligations, as part of efforts to end the lingering industrial dispute in the aviation sector.

The directive followed an emergency stakeholders’ meeting brokered by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, involving aviation unions, airline operators and government agencies.

The meeting was held as a follow-up to the suspension of the unions’ industrial action on August 11, which had disrupted flight operations across the country.

A major focus of the meeting was the dispute over the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and the unionisation of airline workers.

The stakeholders resolved that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other aviation agencies should work with airlines to develop realistic repayment schedules for outstanding statutory obligations.

The repayment arrangements are expected to take into account the operational costs of airlines and prevailing economic realities.

Finance directors of the affected aviation agencies have been directed to conclude the repayment arrangements with individual airlines within one week.

The meeting also resolved that airline workers must be allowed to freely decide whether or not to belong to a union.

Consequently, the NCAA is to ensure that unions have direct access to workers across all airlines solely for the purpose of distributing unionisation forms and allowing employees to make independent choices.

The regulatory agency was also empowered to sanction any airline that obstructs the process.

The stakeholders are expected to reconvene in one month to review the implementation of the resolutions and assess the state of the dispute.

The minister, according to the Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Kambari, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to a safe, peaceful, efficient and sustainable aviation industry.