Fresh divisions have emerged within Nigeria’s aviation unions over the contentious proposal to alter the sharing formula of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, as the House of Representatives threw its weight behind moves to strengthen the funding framework of the aviation sector.

While the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency intensified its campaign for a 56 per cent allocation from the statutory pool, the NCAA and its union are opposing the proposal.

This came on the same day that the House of Representatives backed NAMA’s call for reforms to aviation laws to strengthen the sector and ensure compliance with global best practices.

The proposed legislation seeks to revise the sharing formula for the five per cent Ticket, Charter and Cargo Sales Charge, automate remittances to beneficiary agencies, harmonise conflicting legal provisions and strengthen institutional financing across the aviation sector.

However, the latest crack within the unions became obvious on Thursday when the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers publicly distanced itself from comments credited to the association’s national leadership supporting the move to change the TSC sharing formula.

In a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Agunloye Fredrick, the NCAA chapter said the position advanced by the national leadership neither reflected the views of its members nor followed due consultation.

The communiqué partly read, “The position presented in the publication does not represent the views of the NCAA Chapter of NAAE.

“As a national association with members spread across various aviation agencies, it is expected that matters of such national importance receive broad consultation before any public position is adopted.

“Unfortunately, the NCAA Chapter was neither consulted nor carried along before the publication was made. At no time was our opinion sought.”

The chapter stressed that the Ticket Sales Charge remains the financial backbone of aviation agencies, arguing that each beneficiary plays a distinct role in safeguarding Nigeria’s aviation system.

According to Fredrick, the NCAA, as the country’s economic and safety regulator, relies heavily on its statutory share because it neither operates airports nor provides air navigation services capable of generating significant commercial revenue.

He further explained that the funds support airline and airport certification, licensing of aviation organisations, safety surveillance, economic regulation, consumer protection, inspector training, acquisition of specialised oversight equipment, cybersecurity infrastructure and compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.

The union also noted that the allocation enables Nigeria to meet its financial obligations to international aviation organisations, including ICAO, the African Civil Aviation Commission and the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation.

The engineers warned that reducing the NCAA’s allocation could weaken regulatory oversight with far-reaching consequences. Among the risks identified were fewer safety inspections, delays in certification and licensing, inadequate training of inspectors, inability to procure critical safety equipment and diminished compliance with ICAO standards.

“A strong regulator remains the foundation of every safe aviation system. Effective regulation provides oversight over every operator, every airport, every air navigation service provider and every aviation organisation. Weakening the regulator through reduced funding ultimately weakens the entire aviation industry,” the communiqué warned.

While acknowledging NAMA’s funding challenges, the chapter insisted that strengthening one institution should not come at the expense of another. “We fully recognise the importance of adequate funding for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and acknowledge the enormous investment required to maintain Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management infrastructure.

“However, strengthening one agency should never come at the expense of another agency whose statutory responsibility is to regulate, inspect and enforce compliance across the entire aviation sector,” it added.

Meanwhile, members of the House of Representatives agreed with NAMA, emphasising that only through adequate funding would Nigeria have safe skies.

Speaking at the Green Chamber on Thursday, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th House to reforms aimed at strengthening the financial sustainability of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Represented by the lawmaker representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Sada Soli, at a public hearing on the Civil Aviation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency Amendment Bill, Soli described sustainable funding as essential to aviation safety, operational efficiency and investor confidence.

He added that the National Assembly was determined to align Nigeria’s aviation laws with global best practices. He said, “At the core, these proposals are about improving safety, efficiency, investor confidence and the quality of service enjoyed by the Nigerian travelling public.

“As a House, we are committed to ensuring that our aviation laws are aligned with global best practices, guarantee stable and sustainable funding for vital agencies, and promote the growth of aviation as a driver of commerce, tourism and national development.”

Making a case for increased funding, NAMA Managing Director, Farouk Umar, argued that the existing allocation no longer reflects the enormous financial burden of maintaining Nigeria’s air navigation infrastructure.

According to him, although the statutory five per cent charge yields N50 from every N1,000 ticket or cargo sale, NAMA currently receives only N11, representing 22 per cent of the sum.

He said the agency’s operational costs had risen sharply while key navigation charges had remained unchanged since 2008 despite inflation, exchange rate pressures and escalating technology costs.

Umar explained, “The five per cent charge itself would not increase. The passenger would not be asked to pay a sixth per cent. The amendment would simply direct a fairer share of the existing pool to the infrastructure that guides the aircraft.

“Our surveillance infrastructure also illustrates the urgency. The Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria system has served the country over many years. Its sites and components now require a deliberate renewal and transition programme.”

Umar maintained that NAMA’s services were safety-critical and required uninterrupted investment. “Air navigation services are continuous, technology-intensive and unforgiving of delay. A broken office printer can wait until morning. A degraded safety-critical communication link cannot,” he said.

The agency also urged lawmakers to recognise obstacle assessment and WGS-84 aeronautical surveys as chargeable technical services and proposed a 90-10 revenue-sharing formula in its favour for Aviation Height Clearance-related technical services.

Seeking to allay fears over accountability, Umar assured lawmakers that the agency was prepared to subject itself to greater transparency. “NAMA is not asking the National Assembly for a blank cheque. NAMA supports accountability equal to the responsibility we seek,” he said.

Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Abdullahi Garba, assured stakeholders that every submission would receive objective consideration before the committee submits its report to the House.

“We are here to consider two key bills, which are aimed at strengthening the financial and institutional framework of the aviation industry, with direct implications for safety, transparency and service delivery,” Garba said.