NAAE rejects proposed TSC review, warns against weakening NCAA funding

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By Nnasom David

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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has rejected a recent position by the association’s national leadership on the proposed review of the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) sharing formula, warning that any reduction in the regulator’s allocation could undermine aviation safety oversight in Nigeria.

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The NCAA chapter, in a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Agunloye Fredrick O., said the position credited to the National President of NAAE did not represent the views of its members because the chapter was neither consulted nor carried along before the publication.

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The group said issues concerning the TSC sharing formula required broad consultation among stakeholders due to the importance of the charge to the operations of aviation agencies.

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“We therefore dissociate ourselves from the publication and respectfully state that it should not be interpreted as the collective position of all NAAE members across the aviation industry,” the communiqué stated.

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The Ticket Sales Charge is a statutory levy collected from airline passengers and shared among aviation agencies to support their respective mandates.

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The NCAA chapter argued that the Authority requires adequate funding from the charge to carry out its regulatory responsibilities, noting that the agency does not operate airports, provide air navigation services or generate significant commercial revenue.

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It said funds from the TSC support key regulatory functions, including airline certification and licensing, safety inspections, surveillance activities, economic regulation, consumer protection, enforcement of aviation regulations and implementation of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

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The association warned that reducing NCAA’s share of the charge could lead to fewer safety inspections, delays in certification and approvals, reduced training opportunities for safety inspectors, inability to acquire specialised oversight equipment and possible challenges during international safety audits.

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According to the communiqué, weakened funding for the regulator could also affect Nigeria’s aviation safety rating and international confidence in the country’s oversight system.

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“Strong regulation remains the foundation of every safe aviation system. Effective regulation provides oversight over every operator, every airport, every air navigation service provider and every aviation organisation,” it said.

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While acknowledging the importance of adequate funding for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), particularly in maintaining Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management infrastructure, the NCAA chapter said strengthening one agency should not undermine another institution’s statutory responsibilities.

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The group maintained that the TSC debate should not become a competition among aviation agencies but should focus on finding sustainable funding solutions that support all institutions within the sector.

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It called on stakeholders and the leadership of NAAE to prioritise consultation, dialogue and evidence-based engagement before taking public positions on national aviation policies.

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The association reaffirmed its commitment to aviation safety, regulatory excellence and cooperation among agencies for the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

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