A fresh dispute over Aviation funding and ‘sharing formula’ is raising concerns about the future of air safety in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, says any move to reduce its statutory share of Ticket Sales Charges, TSC, could weaken safety oversight, compromise regulatory operations and put air travellers at risk.
The warning comes as a bill seeking to alter revenue sharing among aviation agencies is being considered by the National Assembly.
The bill seeks to raise the share of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, to 40% from its current 22%.
While NAMA currently receives 22% of the 5% TSC, NCAA gets 56%. But the bill seeks to reduce NCAA’s to 40% and raise NAMA’s share to 40% for equal share.
The Authority says proposals to further reduce its share in favour of NAMA would undermine its ability to effectively regulate the aviation sector.
At a session with journalists in Abuja, the spokesman and Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Michael Achimugu, argued that unlike agencies as NAMA that generate their own revenue, NCAA is a cost-recovery regulator whose primary responsibility is ensuring safety through inspections, certification and enforcement.
He noted that adequate funding is essential to train inspectors, maintain global safety standards and protect passengers.
The Authority also dismissed reports that it owes NAMA, explaining that remittances to aviation agencies are processed directly by the Central Bank of Nigeria and not by the NCAA.
Achimugu added that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has stepped in to mediate the dispute and urged stakeholders to allow the ongoing engagement to run its course rather than inflame public opinion by “running to the press”.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
