Abuja: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of unions within the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has urged the government to consider the commercialisation or privatisation of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as a means to upgrade air navigation infrastructure. This appeal was articulated in a statement signed by branch secretaries of the NCAA JAC and distributed to news agencies on Wednesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the signatories of the statement comprise representatives from key aviation unions, including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP). They highlighted that NAMA’s financial reliance on government funding has hindered the deployment of essential technologies required to align with global aviation standards.
The unions believe that transitioning NAMA to a commercial or private entity would allow it to access diverse funding sources such as private equity, international bonds, and capital markets, essential for modernising infrastructure. This financial strategy, they argue, would facilitate the integration of advanced air navigation systems, notably satellite-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and updated backup infrastructure.
The unions attribute the delays in safety enhancements and infrastructure development to the current dependence on annual government budget allocations, shifting governmental priorities, and bureaucratic hurdles. They propose that a commercially oriented NAMA would achieve financial sustainability by leveraging capital market resources and making swift operational decisions focused on safety and efficiency.
Drawing on international examples, the unions cited successful models like Nav Canada, NATS Holdings, and Airways New Zealand, which operate effectively under user-pays systems that promote technological progress. They outlined NAMA’s revenue streams, such as en-route charges, overflight charges, a statutory share of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), and non-navigational fees, among others.
Despite these revenue avenues, the unions expressed concerns about the lack of transparency regarding income from airspace violation fines and extension-of-service-hour charges. They called for improved financial disclosure to bolster public trust in the agency’s financial practices.
The committee also addressed NAMA’s current proposal to the National Assembly to increase the Ticket Sales Charge by 23 to 40 per cent. They urged the agency to concentrate on enhancing operational efficiency and financial accountability instead.
Furthermore, the unions emphasized the necessity of maintaining the NCAA’s role as an independent safety regulator in any commercialisation or privatisation strategy, ensuring oversight, audits, and enforcement in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act. They advocated for either complete privatisation or a structured Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, transforming NAMA into an independent corporate entity with private sector involvement, clear performance objectives, and national security measures.
The committee warned that retaining the existing structure could result in Nigeria falling behind in global aviation standards due to outdated infrastructure, financial limitations, and operational inefficiencies. They urged the Federal Government to adopt reforms that would enhance the efficiency, safety, and long-term viability of the nation’s airspace management system.