The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has opposed the proposed TSC review, warning that reducing the regulator’s share of the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) could weaken aviation safety oversight and affect Nigeria’s standing in the global aviation industry.
In a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Agunloye Fredrick O., the NCAA chapter distanced itself from comments credited to the National President of the association, saying the position did not reflect the views of its members.
According to the chapter, it was neither consulted nor involved before the statement was made public, stressing that issues surrounding the TSC review require broad stakeholder engagement because of their impact on aviation agencies across the country.
The association stated that its members should not be associated with the position already circulated, insisting that it does not represent the collective opinion of engineers working within the NCAA.
The Ticket Sales Charge is a statutory levy collected from airline passengers and distributed among aviation agencies to support their operational responsibilities.
The NCAA chapter argued that the aviation regulator relies heavily on its allocation from the TSC to carry out critical oversight duties, noting that unlike some aviation agencies, the Authority does not operate airports, provide air navigation services or generate substantial commercial income.
It explained that TSC funding enables the NCAA to perform essential regulatory functions, including airline certification and licensing, safety inspections, surveillance operations, consumer protection, enforcement of aviation regulations and compliance with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The engineers warned that any reduction in the regulator’s allocation under the proposed TSC review could lead to fewer safety inspections, slower certification processes, limited training opportunities for inspectors and difficulties in acquiring specialised equipment needed for effective oversight.
They also cautioned that weakened funding could negatively affect Nigeria’s aviation safety rating and reduce international confidence in the country’s regulatory system, particularly during global safety audits.
While acknowledging the need for adequate funding for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to maintain critical Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management infrastructure, the association maintained that strengthening one agency should not come at the expense of another’s statutory responsibilities.
The group called on aviation stakeholders and the national leadership of the NAAE to embrace wider consultation, constructive dialogue and evidence-based decision-making before taking public positions on policies affecting the aviation sector.
Reaffirming its commitment to aviation safety and regulatory excellence, the NCAA chapter urged all stakeholders to pursue sustainable funding solutions that support every institution within Nigeria’s aviation industry rather than creating unnecessary competition over available resources.
