BUSINESS Aviation: FG sets up tax force on multiple charges, BASA

The Federal Government yesterday inaugurated a tax force on regulatory matters at the airports to look into multiple charges, Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) and the state of airport infrastructure.

Inaugurating the committee in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of State, Aviation Sen. Hadi Sirika, said the committee is critical to addressing stakeholders’ concerns in Abuja.

The Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) had previously raised issues around multiple charges, failing airport infrastructure and unfair bilateral air service agreements.

According to him, when the administration came on board, it met so many issues and complaints on ground noting that some are already resolved.

“Since we assumed office, there have been lots of complaints against quite a number of issues that have been in the industry before we came. We did the best that we can to solve some of them; indeed we resolved many,” he said.

He said: “It is my understanding that some of these issues have been tabled before the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (then as Acting President) and he directed that a committee be set up under my chairmanship to look into these issues.

“This is not the first time, this type of committee has been set up. What we are doing today is to inaugurates the task force committee to follow the instructions of his Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.”

Sirika said with the mandate given to the members they could bring ideas that border on the issues at stake.

He urged members to take the assignment seriously and do justice to the issues on ground to enable the agencies give the best of service.

Membership of the task force comprises Mr Sirika as the chairman, the special adviser to the president on economic matters, the director general NCAA, the managing director, FAAN, the managing director NAMA, the nominations of AON, the department of air transport management, federal ministry of transportation and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) representative as members.