SHEATHE YOUR SWORDS, SAVE FLIGHTS, RETURN TO DIALOGUE: NCAA appeals for restraint as TSC dispute disrupts Air operations, strands passengers By Raymond Enoch
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has made a fresh appeal to aviation unions to suspend their ongoing industrial action over the disputed Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), warning that continued disruption of flight operations could further inconvenience passengers and stakeholders across the aviation industry.
The appeal, coming amid disruptions to Air Peace operations in Lagos and Abuja, was made by the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, who urged the unions to “sheathe their swords” and return to dialogue while efforts continue to resolve the dispute.
The NCAA said it was concerned about the impact of the industrial action on passengers and other stakeholders, particularly as the action has already affected scheduled flights and left some travellers stranded.
According to the regulator, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has been actively working to resolve the issues at the centre of the dispute and is expected to continue the process upon his return.
The NCAA therefore appealed to the unions to exercise restraint rather than escalate the industrial action.
The authority’s intervention followed renewed protests by aviation unions over alleged non-remittance of the statutory 5 per cent TSC collected by airlines on tickets for flights originating from Nigeria.
The unions, including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), had earlier issued ultimatums to affected airlines, demanding settlement of outstanding TSC obligations.
The unions contend that failure by some airlines to remit the charge has deprived aviation agencies of funds required for regulatory, safety and operational responsibilities, with implications also for workers’ welfare and conditions of service.
But the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had rejected the planned industrial action, describing it as misguided and warning that disrupting airline operations would further compound the challenges confronting carriers already burdened by high aviation fuel costs and multiple charges.
Despite the opposition from airline operators, the unions proceeded with their action, initially disrupting Air Peace operations in Lagos and Abuja.
In its latest intervention, the NCAA stressed that the dispute should not be allowed to degenerate into a prolonged confrontation capable of disrupting the travelling public and damaging confidence in the sector.
The authority said a meeting convened by the Aviation Minister last week to address the matter could not hold because airline operators failed to honour the invitation.
The NCAA consequently appealed to all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation, expressing confidence that the issues could be resolved and normal flight operations restored.
The regulator also assured the travelling public that the industrial action had not compromised aviation safety, stressing that it remained fully committed to exercising its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.
The Ticket Sales Charge is a statutory five per cent levy collected by airlines on behalf of the NCAA.
Under the existing revenue-sharing arrangement, the NCAA receives 56 per cent of the proceeds, while the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) receives 22 per cent, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) 9 per cent, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) 7 per cent and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) 6 per cent.
The dispute has, however, moved beyond the question of remittance, with a proposal before the National Assembly seeking to alter the distribution formula by increasing NAMA’s share from 22 per cent to 40 per cent and reducing the NCAA’s allocation from 56 per cent to 40 per cent.
The NCAA has opposed the proposed reduction, with Najomo previously arguing that the TSC accounts for about 85 per cent of the authority’s revenue and remains critical to its ability to discharge safety oversight functions, including certification, licensing, inspections and regulatory supervision.
With the dispute now affecting actual flight operations, the NCAA’s latest position is clear: dialogue must replace confrontation, passengers must not become casualties of an industry dispute, and all parties must return to the negotiating table.
For the regulator, the immediate priority is to restore normal flight operations while allowing the ongoing process led by the Aviation Ministry to address the underlying TSC disagreements.
The NCAA’s message to the unions is therefore an appeal for restraint: suspend the action, return to dialogue and give the resolution process another chance.
