… safety must always come before cost
The in-house unions of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have strongly opposed calls by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the privatisation or commercialisation of the agency, warning that such a move could jeopardise aviation safety, national security and Nigeria’s sovereign control over its airspace.
In a statement jointly signed by the unions – Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), the workers described the proposal as “misguided” and lacking a proper understanding of the strategic role NAMA plays in the nation’s aviation ecosystem.
The unions stressed that NAMA is not a commercial enterprise established for profit but a critical national institution responsible for managing Nigeria’s sovereign airspace and providing essential air navigation services.
According to them, the agency oversees highly sensitive aviation infrastructure, including air traffic management systems, communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) facilities, aeronautical information management systems, flight procedure design, aircraft surveillance, instrument flight procedures and other safety-critical operational platforms that directly support civil aviation and national security.
Safety Before Profit
The unions argued that one of NAMA’s most demanding responsibilities is the inspection and validation of instrument flight procedures such as Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approaches, Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Standard Instrument Arrivals (STARs), insisting that these procedures require specialised aircraft, advanced equipment, highly trained personnel and substantial financial investment.
They noted that these invisible but essential safety functions are mandatory under international aviation standards and should never be subjected to commercial considerations.
“Safety must always come before cost”, the unions declared.
They warned that transferring such strategic responsibilities to private commercial interests without fully considering the implications for national sovereignty and aviation safety would expose Nigeria to avoidable operational and security risks.
‘Airspace Is Sovereignty’
Citing Article 1 of the Chicago Convention, the unions emphasised that every nation has complete and exclusive sovereignty over its airspace.
They argued that decisions affecting air navigation services must therefore remain guided by public interest, safety obligations and national security rather than commercial objectives.
According to the unions, any proposal capable of weakening NAMA’s operational control or exposing sensitive aviation systems to private interests deserves the highest level of national security scrutiny.
“The protection of Nigeria’s sovereign airspace is not only an aviation responsibility; it is a matter of national security”, the statement said.
Questions Over NCAA Unions’ Position
The unions also questioned why the privatisation proposal originated from representatives operating within Nigeria’s aviation regulatory system.
They said union leaders in the aviation sector are expected to possess adequate knowledge of aviation safety principles, national security considerations and international obligations before advancing policy recommendations.
Consequently, they called on the appropriate authorities and aviation stakeholders to review the circumstances surrounding the NCAA JAC’s position and consider appropriate administrative measures where necessary.
TSC Sharing Formula at the Centre
The NAMA unions linked the renewed privatisation campaign to ongoing discussions over the review of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) sharing formula among aviation agencies.
They explained that the proposal under consideration seeks to increase NAMA’s allocation from the current 23 per cent to 40 per cent, while reducing NCAA’s share from 57 per cent to 40 per cent.
According to the unions, the debate should not be viewed as a contest between agencies but as a necessary effort to adequately fund the country’s air navigation infrastructure.
They commended the Federal Government and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for recognising NAMA’s strategic role in maintaining aviation safety through improved funding.
Calls for Greater Investment
The unions maintained that NAMA requires sustained investment to modernise radar systems, communication facilities, navigational aids, satellite technologies, aeronautical information systems, flight calibration services, specialised technical training and other critical infrastructure required to ensure safe air navigation.
They argued that effective regulation by NCAA depends on a well-funded and operationally capable air navigation service provider.
“A regulator requires a capable service provider to regulate. Oversight cannot replace infrastructure. Certification cannot replace operational capability”, they stated.
Foreign Models Misrepresented
The statement also dismissed comparisons with foreign air navigation service providers used to justify privatisation.
According to the unions, NAV CANADA operates as a not-for-profit corporation without shareholders, while the United Kingdom’s NATS functions under a controlled public-private partnership in which government retains strategic interests.
Similarly, Airways New Zealand remains wholly owned by the New Zealand Government.
The unions argued that these models demonstrate how advanced aviation nations strengthen not weaken their air navigation service providers through sustainable funding and strong governance.
Final Position
Reaffirming their commitment to reforms, transparency and modernisation, the unions insisted that Nigeria’s air navigation services must remain under public control.
They called for a fair review of the TSC sharing formula, increased funding for NAMA, sustained investment in Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) infrastructure, and protection of aviation-generated revenue for sectoral development.
“NAMA is not for sale. Nigeria’s airspace is not for sale. Safety is not negotiable”, the unions declared.