The Joint Action Committee, JAC, of unions in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has called for the commercialisation or privatisation of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, saying the reform is necessary to modernise Nigeria’s air navigation infrastructure and improve aviation safety.
The unions said NAMA’s current dependence on government funding and statutory allocations has slowed the deployment of critical technologies needed to meet global aviation standards.
The position was contained in a joint statement signed by the branch secretaries of major aviation unions in the NCAA, including Obasi Ugwumba of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN; Salami Adeniyi of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, ANAP; Omaga Joshua of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE; and Celestine N. Chukwu of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE.
According to the unions, commercialising or privatising NAMA would enable the agency to access private equity, international bonds, capital markets and other private financing options required to fund long-term aviation infrastructure.
They said such funding would help NAMA invest in next-generation air navigation systems, including satellite-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, ADS-B, technology and modern backup infrastructure.
The unions argued that reliance on annual government budget allocations, shifting political priorities and bureaucratic processes has delayed critical safety upgrades and infrastructure development.
They said a commercially driven NAMA would be more financially sustainable and better positioned to make faster operational decisions based on safety, efficiency and technological needs rather than budget cycles.
The committee cited international models such as Nav Canada, NATS Holdings in the United Kingdom and Airways New Zealand, saying those air navigation service providers operate efficiently under user-pays systems that support continuous technological advancement and financial stability.
The unions noted that NAMA already has major revenue sources, including en-route charges, overflight charges, statutory share of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, TSC, and non-navigational charges.
They also listed other revenue streams such as charter flight services, air traffic services at private and state-owned airports, aeronautical telecommunications, calibration services, obstacle evaluation, aeronautical information sales, cartographic surveys, aerial operations charges and special Hajj or pilgrimage operations.
However, the unions expressed concern over what they described as inadequate transparency in some revenue areas, particularly airspace violation fines and extension of service-hour charges.
They called for greater public disclosure of such revenues, saying improved transparency would strengthen public confidence in NAMA’s financial reporting.
The committee also criticised NAMA’s proposal before the National Assembly seeking an increase of between 23 and 40 per cent in the Ticket Sales Charge.
According to the unions, NAMA should focus on operational efficiency, financial accountability and structural reform rather than pushing for higher charges.
The unions emphasised that any commercialisation or privatisation model must preserve the role of the NCAA as an independent aviation safety regulator.
They said the NCAA must remain responsible for oversight, audits and enforcement in line with the Civil Aviation Act and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO.
The committee argued that separating NAMA’s commercial airspace management role from NCAA’s regulatory function would help prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that safety is not compromised by revenue considerations.
They proposed either full privatisation or a carefully structured Public-Private Partnership, PPP, that would transform NAMA into an independent corporation with private sector participation, measurable performance targets and safeguards for national security.
The unions said such a model would allow the Federal Government to retain effective regulatory oversight while enabling private sector financing, innovation and operational discipline.
They warned that maintaining the current structure could leave Nigeria behind global aviation standards due to ageing infrastructure, persistent funding shortages and operational inefficiencies.
According to them, efficient airspace management is vital for economic growth, regional competitiveness and passenger safety.
The unions therefore urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to embrace reforms that would position Nigeria’s airspace management system for greater efficiency, safety and long-term sustainability.
“Nigeria’s airspace deserves world-class management. It is time to harness private sector ingenuity and innovation for the benefit of all Nigerians and the future of the nation’s aviation industry,” the unions stated.
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