By George Ozalla
The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Ona Najomo, has called for the protection of the Authority’s statutory funding allocation, stressing that any further reduction could affect its ability to effectively carry out its aviation safety oversight responsibilities.
Najomo made the appeal during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on the proposed review of the allocation of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC), where he highlighted the importance of maintaining a stable funding structure for the nation’s aviation regulator.
The NCAA boss said while the Authority supports adequate funding for all aviation agencies, any review of the existing revenue-sharing formula must take into consideration the distinct responsibilities of each institution within the aviation ecosystem.
He explained that the NCAA relies heavily on the Ticket Sales Charge, which contributes about 85 per cent of its revenue, to discharge its statutory mandate, including safety inspections, certification, enforcement, surveillance and compliance monitoring.
According to Najomo, the NCAA’s responsibility as the independent safety regulator requires a reliable funding mechanism, adding that reducing its allocation could affect the Authority’s capacity to sustain the level of oversight required to guarantee the safety of Nigeria’s civil aviation industry.
He noted that while other aviation agencies have important roles, their functions differ from that of the NCAA, which has the responsibility of ensuring that airlines, airports and other operators comply with established safety standards.
The Director-General further explained that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), as a service provider, already generates revenue from commercial charges paid by aircraft operators for air navigation services provided.
He stated that international aviation principles recognise that the cost of air navigation services should largely be recovered from users of those services rather than passenger-related charges meant to support regulatory functions.
Najomo advised that where additional funding is required for aviation agencies, such support should be explored through improved efficiency, optimisation of commercial revenue streams, stronger corporate governance and targeted government intervention for strategic infrastructure where necessary.
His position received support from other senior aviation experts who warned that weakening the financial independence of the regulator could affect the overall safety framework of the industry.
Former Nigeria’s representative on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council and immediate past Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Musa Nuhu, stressed that while every aviation agency has a specific mandate, responsibility for safety oversight rests solely with the NCAA.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ICAO, Engr. Mahmud Ben-Tukur, also expressed concern over any funding arrangement that could compromise the independence of the regulator, noting that a strong and adequately funded safety oversight authority remains essential to maintaining global aviation standards.
Also speaking virtually, former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ICAO and former President of the ICAO Assembly, Dr. Bernard Aliu, and former Director-General of Civil Aviation, Dr. Harold Demuren, supported the call for the protection of the NCAA’s financial independence.
They maintained that a properly funded and independent regulator is critical to sustaining Nigeria’s aviation safety system and ensuring continued compliance with international standards.
The public hearing was attended by members of the National Assembly Committees on Aviation, including Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, and Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, alongside heads of aviation agencies, airline operators and other stakeholders.
The hearing provided an opportunity for aviation authorities and industry players to present their positions on the proposed review, with lawmakers expected to consider the submissions before making recommendations on the way forward.
