The National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has intensified its campaign for a review of the 5 per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) distribution, urging the National Assembly to adopt a funding model that reflects the growing responsibilities of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and safeguards the country’s aviation safety system.
Ahead of the National Assembly’s public hearing on the TSC, the association argued that the existing revenue-sharing arrangement no longer supports the realities of modern air navigation services, warning that inadequate funding for NAMA could undermine the maintenance of critical aviation infrastructure.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Engr. Selzing Miri, and Secretary, Engr. Mohammed Shuaibu, NAAE said lawmakers should approach the review with national interest in mind by considering the changing roles, operational demands and financial needs of all aviation agencies.
The association maintained that Nigeria’s ability to meet international obligations in air navigation services depends largely on a financially sustainable NAMA, noting that the agency’s current allocation from the TSC is no longer commensurate with its expanding responsibilities.
According to NAAE, NAMA currently receives 23 per cent of the Ticket Sales Charge, while the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) takes 57 per cent. It argued that the formula was designed decades ago and has failed to keep pace with sweeping technological changes in the aviation industry.
The engineers noted that the deployment of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN), satellite surveillance, digital communication platforms, cybersecurity systems and other International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards has significantly increased the cost of providing air navigation services, yet the agency’s statutory revenue has remained virtually unchanged.
NAAE stressed that its position should not be viewed as a contest between aviation agencies but as a call to ensure that the organisation responsible for managing Nigeria’s airspace has the financial capacity to sustain safe and efficient flight operations.
While acknowledging the critical oversight role of the NCAA, the association insisted that regulation alone cannot guarantee aviation safety without a well-funded air navigation service provider capable of maintaining modern Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) infrastructure.
It explained that radar installations, Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), DVOR/DME facilities, ADS-B, Multilateration (MLAT), communication networks, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM), power systems, cybersecurity infrastructure and other safety-critical equipment require continuous investment, regular upgrades and specialised engineering support.
Warning against underfunding these systems, NAAE said any deterioration in air navigation infrastructure could expose the country’s aviation industry to avoidable operational disruptions and safety risks.
The association therefore urged lawmakers and industry stakeholders to use the review of the TSC formula as an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation safety framework and position the country to realise its ambition of becoming Africa’s leading aviation hub.