By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned that plans to reduce its statutory share of the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) could weaken aviation safety oversight and endanger the country’s aviation sector.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the proposed adjustment, currently being considered by the National Assembly, seeks to reduce the Authority’s share of the TSC in favour of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
Achimugu argued that the move would significantly affect the NCAA’s ability to carry out its core regulatory functions, including safety inspections, technical oversight and personnel training.
He noted that the NCAA currently collects the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and remits statutory allocations to NAMA, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), in line with existing laws.
According to him, the regulatory agency requires more funding rather than less, stressing that government deductions are already made from the NCAA’s share before allocations are distributed to other aviation agencies.
“The reason planes are not falling from the sky today under this administration is because of the NCAA,” Achimugu said, adding that aviation regulators must remain adequately funded to maintain high safety standards.
He explained that NCAA inspectors must possess superior technical expertise to effectively regulate service providers, warning that inadequate funding could undermine training, remuneration and the agency’s overall effectiveness.
Achimugu also credited the NCAA’s oversight for Nigeria’s strong performance in international aviation safety and security audits, as well as improvements in passenger rights protection.
He urged stakeholders to carefully consider the implications of reducing the Authority’s financial capacity, maintaining that agencies with independent revenue-generating mandates should rely on their own funding sources rather than seeking a larger share of the NCAA’s statutory allocation.
“The NCAA needs more funding, not less. We are a cost-recovery agency, not a revenue-generating one. Proper funding ensures inspectors remain well-trained and adequately remunerated, reducing the risk of compromise and protecting the flying public,” he said.
The NCAA spokesman disclosed that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has intervened in the dispute and is engaging all parties to find a resolution.
He appealed to stakeholders to refrain from making inflammatory public statements while discussions are ongoing, expressing confidence in the minister’s efforts to resolve the matter.
Achimugu also dismissed reports that the NCAA owes NAMA, explaining that statutory deductions and remittances are processed directly by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), not by the Authority.
According to him, checks confirmed that the remittances were being processed, adding that the claim that the NCAA is indebted to any agency is unfounded.
