By Nnasom David
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of unions at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called on the Federal Government to commercialise or privatise the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), saying the move would strengthen air navigation infrastructure, improve aviation safety and align Nigeria with global best practices.
The position was contained in a joint statement signed by the branch secretaries of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).
The statement was signed by ATSSSAN Branch Secretary, Obasi Ugwumba; ANAP Branch Secretary, Salami J. Adeniyi; NUATE Branch Secretary, Omaga Joshua; and NAAPE Branch Secretary, Celestine N. Chukwu.
According to the unions, NAMA’s reliance on government budget allocations has slowed the deployment of critical air navigation technologies required to meet international aviation standards.
They argued that commercialisation or privatisation would enable the agency to attract private equity, access international bonds and capital markets, and secure other financing options needed to invest in next-generation air navigation systems, including satellite-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and modern backup infrastructure.
The committee noted that dependence on annual budgetary allocations, changing political priorities and bureaucratic processes has delayed critical safety upgrades and infrastructure development.
It added that a commercially driven NAMA would become more financially sustainable by generating funds through the capital market while taking operational decisions based on safety and efficiency rather than government budget cycles.
Citing global examples, the unions pointed to Nav Canada, NATS Holdings in the United Kingdom and Airways New Zealand as successful air navigation service providers operating under user-pays models that support continuous technological advancement and financial sustainability.
The committee also outlined NAMA’s key revenue sources, including en-route charges, overflight charges, its statutory share of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), non-navigational charges, charter flight services, air traffic services at private and state-owned airports, aeronautical telecommunications, calibration services, obstacle evaluation, aeronautical information sales and special Hajj operations.
However, the unions expressed concern over what they described as insufficient transparency regarding revenue generated from airspace violation fines and extension of service hour charges, urging the agency to improve public disclosure and financial accountability.
The committee also criticised NAMA’s proposal before the National Assembly seeking to increase the Ticket Sales Charge by between 23 and 40 per cent, arguing that the agency should prioritise operational efficiency and better financial management instead of imposing additional charges.
While advocating reforms, the unions stressed that any commercialisation or privatisation model should preserve the NCAA’s role as an independent safety regulator responsible for oversight, audits and enforcement in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act and standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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, while maintaining effective government regulation.
The committee warned that retaining the current structure could leave Nigeria behind global aviation standards due to ageing infrastructure, inadequate funding and operational inefficiencies.
It urged the Federal Government to implement reforms that would position Nigeria’s airspace management system for greater efficiency, improved safety and long-term sustainability.
