AVIATION
COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE NCAA CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AIR TRAFFIC ENGINEERS (NAAE) ON THE RECENT PUBLICATION CONCERNING THE REVIEW OF THE TICKET SALES CHARGE (TSC) SHARING FORMULA
COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE NCAA CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AIR TRAFFIC ENGINEERS (NAAE) ON THE RECENT PUBLICATION CONCERNING THE REVIEW OF THE TICKET SALES CHARGE (TSC) SHARING FORMULA
The attention of the NCAA Chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has been drawn to recent media publications credited to the National President of NAAE regarding the proposed review of the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) sharing formula.
While we acknowledge the right of every professional body to advocate for the welfare and operational sustainability of its members and institutions, we wish to state clearly that the position presented in the publication does not represent the views of the NCAA Chapter of NAAE.
As a national association with members spread across various aviation agencies, it is expected that matters of such national importance receive broad consultation before any public position is adopted. Unfortunately, the NCAA Chapter was neither consulted nor carried along before the publication was made. At no time was our opinion sought on the proposed review of the Ticket Sales Charge sharing formula.
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 Ticket Sales Charge is a statutory charge collected from airline passengers and distributed among aviation agencies to enable them discharge their respective mandates. The sharing formula exists because every agency performs a distinct but complementary role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient aviation system.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority is the economic and safety regulator of the Nigerian aviation industry. Unlike service providers, NCAA does not operate airports, provide air navigation services or generate significant commercial revenue. A substantial portion of its operational funding comes from its allocation from the Ticket Sales Charge.
These funds enable the Authority to perform critical regulatory functions, including certification and licensing of airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, maintenance organizations and aviation training organizations. The Authority conducts continuous surveillance and inspections, safety audits, economic regulation, consumer protection, enforcement of aviation regulations, accident prevention programmes, implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, certification of aviation personnel and continuous monitoring of the aviation industry.
The same funds support inspector training, acquisition of specialized oversight equipment, international safety obligations, participation in ICAO programmes, inspector travel for surveillance across Nigeria, development of aviation regulations, safety promotion, information technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, laboratory services and numerous regulatory activities required to sustain Nigeria’s aviation safety rating.
In addition, the NCAA is responsible for meeting Nigeria’s statutory financial obligations to international aviation organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organization (BAGASOO). These financial commitments are essential to maintaining Nigeria’s standing within the global aviation community, preserving voting rights, supporting regional safety oversight initiatives and ensuring continued participation in international aviation programmes.
Any significant reduction in NCAA’s allocation from the Ticket Sales Charge will have serious consequences for aviation safety oversight and regulatory effectiveness.
Such consequences include:
- Reduced frequency of safety inspections and surveillance activities.
- Delays in certification, licensing and regulatory approvals.
- Reduced capacity for continuous training and requalification of aviation safety inspectors.
- Inability to procure and maintain specialized oversight equipment.
- Weakening of safety oversight required under ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.
- Reduced capacity to monitor airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and maintenance organizations.
- Delays in responding to emerging safety concerns.
- Increased risk of deficiencies during ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme assessments.
- Reduced international confidence in Nigeria’s aviation safety oversight system.
- Possible negative impact on Nigeria’s ICAO compliance status and international reputation.
A strong regulator 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 organization. Weakening the regulator through reduced funding ultimately weakens the entire aviation industry.
We fully recognize the importance of adequate funding for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and acknowledge the enormous investment required to maintain Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management infrastructure. However, strengthening one agency should never come at the expense of another agency whose statutory responsibility is to regulate, inspect and enforce compliance across the entire aviation sector.
The issue before the aviation industry should not be viewed as a competition among agencies. Rather, stakeholders should collectively seek sustainable funding solutions capable of supporting all aviation institutions without compromising their statutory responsibilities.
The NCAA Chapter of NAAE therefore calls on all stakeholders, including the leadership of our association, to embrace wider consultation, constructive dialogue and evidence-based engagement before adopting public positions on matters of national aviation policy.
We remain committed to promoting aviation safety, regulatory excellence and institutional cooperation in the overall interest of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Signed,
Chairman
NCAA Chapter
National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE)
For and on behalf of all members of the NCAA Chapter.
