Aviation agencies kick as FG orders 25% deductions from their revenue … as FAAN meets with Munich Airport over resumption.

Chinazor Megbolu

The agencies in the aviation sector have berated the Federal Government over the compulsory 25 per cent remittance of the internally generated revenue (IGR).

The 25 per cent remittance, was charged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) by the federal government, through a letter from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, dated April 27, 2020 with reference: OAGF.TSA/93A/111 and tagged: ‘Pilot Commencement of Automatic Deduction of 25 per cent Operating Surplus’ stated that the agency is in dire need of the funds for infrastructural upgrade and training.

The letter, signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris and sent to FAAN and nine other government agencies, mandated that these agencies must pay 25 per cent inflows to the federation account.

According to the letter; “this is to inform you that Mr. President has approved that 25 per cent of all inflows accruing to the under listed agencies and parastatals, other than those already earmarked either as consolidated revenue fund or federation account revenue item, passing through the CBN payment gateway (currently, REMITA) be deducted at source and per transaction as operating surplus”.

The letter also stated that the amount deducted should be remitted realtime to the Federal Government of Nigeria sub-recurrent account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, FAAN at the weekend held a virtual meeting with Munich International Airport ahead of flight resumption.

FAAN in a statement said that Munich International Airport needs to share experiences on resumption of flight activities after the COVID-19 lockdown.

The virtual meeting, FAAN noted, held at the direction of its Managing Director, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu, and with the Munich Airport Experts Team namely; Herbert Keffel, Georgios Elkolids, and Julian Duerdoth.

The statement further maintained that the meeting was organised to check the readiness of FAAN to resume operations gradually as a result of the June 21, 2020 deadline by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19.

Yadudu also hinted that the meeting was very important for the FAAN, because it was meant to compare notes with other international airports towards ensuring safe travel in the country.

He, however, noted that the FAAN is already responding to guidelines set by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for gradual airport reopening and post-COVID-19 operations.

“FAAN hopes to strengthen its partnership with the German airport and enhance route development while boosting passenger confidence during flights,” Yadudu said.