Airlines seek meeting with Tinubu over charges, taxes
File photo: President Bola Tinubu
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The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has called for an urgent meeting between domestic airline operators and President Bola Tinubu on charges and taxes, saying the Federal Government needs to understand better the challenges threatening the survival of airlines in the country.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Monday, Onyema said airline operators were seeking an audience with the President to discuss issues affecting the aviation industry, particularly taxes and charges imposed on operators.
“The time has come and I believe this government will listen, we are seeking an appointment with the president and we think the president should see us and hear from us,” he said.
Onyema said airlines appreciated the support received from the current administration but insisted that operators needed to communicate the difficulties facing the sector directly.
He said, “We are patriotic citizens of this country, we appreciate what this government has done for us, but they need to listen more to us and get to know the pains, the pain points that are hitting these airlines. If any airline goes down, banks will take a hit and it will create massive job losses. A lot of people will be thrown into the unemployment market and of course, you don’t know who will be the next hand rubber, next suicide bomber, next kidnapper, and all that.
“You’ll be promoting insecurity the other way. We need to sit down with Mr. President and tell him face to face; we don’t want anybody to go between him and us. We want to sit with our very progressive minister, sit down with him, sit down with the president, and tell him the truth.”
The Air Peace boss identified the five per cent Passenger Service Charge as one of the major concerns of airline operators, stressing that the levy places additional pressure on airlines.
“What is the truth? The truth we have to tell the president is that the five percent passengers TSC, the tax, the airlines and they will tell you that oh, it’s the passengers that pay it. We refuse to accept. We refuse to accept,” he said.
Explaining the impact of the charge, Onyema added, “If I charge N100,000, the NCAA will take five per cent. If I charge N200,000, the NCAA will take five per cent of N200,000. I didn’t set up business with you because aviation itself does not give you a five percent gain.
“But they tell you, oh, it’s the passengers that pay it. No, they take it from the passengers.”
He urged the President to establish a committee to review aviation taxes and charges, saying such a move would help address concerns that have contributed to the collapse of airlines over the years.
“We want Mr. President to set up aviation taxes and charges review committee. It is very important so that it doesn’t look as if we are trying to fool the government. Let the government select people, technocrats, people from aviation, and then some of us from the airline industry. Raise a committee of aviation taxes and charges, I mean a review committee to look into these charges that airlines have been crying over time to be responsible for the demise of airlines in this country,” Onyema said.
Princess Etuk is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over five years of experience covering national development and the economy. She focuses on public policy, infrastructure, agriculture, and related sectors, producing insightful features and exclusive reports. Princess’s work reflects a strong commitment to accountability journalism, sectoral development reporting, and informed public dialogue.
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