Aviation Crisis: Group Demands NCAA DG’s Resignation, Urges Reps to Probe 5% TSC

The National Aviation Stakeholders Forum (NASF) has called for the resignation of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo, citing regulatory failures and mismanagement that led to recent flight disruptions. The group, comprising aviation experts and consultants, argued that the cancellations and passenger inconvenience were avoidable if the NCAA had addressed underlying disputes before they escalated.

In a statement on Monday, NASF National Coordinator Mr. Yahaya Yusuf highlighted concerns over the collection, remittance, and management of funds generated from the five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC). The forum urged the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to broaden its public hearing on the TSC sharing formula into a comprehensive investigation of fund management.

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The issue should not be limited to who gets what percentage of the five per cent TSC. Nigerians deserve to know how much has been collected, how much has been remitted and what has happened to the funds.

NASF wants the committee to secure records of TSC collections and remittances from airlines, identify outstanding liabilities, verify enforcement against defaulting operators, and scrutinize the utilization of funds by aviation agencies. "Nigerians deserve to know how much has been collected, how much has been remitted and what has happened to the funds," Yusuf stated, emphasizing the need for transparency.

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Leadership is about preventing crises, not merely responding after flights have been grounded. The recent disruption has raised serious questions about the capacity of the NCAA under Capt. Najomo to effectively regulate and manage the sector.

The forum advocates for a real-time, technology-driven system to track ticket sales and TSC collections, aiming to eliminate loopholes and prevent future disruptions. NASF criticized the NCAA leadership for allowing the dispute to become a crisis, stressing that passengers should not suffer consequences from disagreements between agencies, airlines, and unions. "Leadership is about preventing crises, not merely responding after flights have been grounded," Yusuf added, calling for new leadership at the NCAA.

While demanding Najomo's resignation, NASF commended the National Assembly for engaging stakeholders on the TSC sharing formula. They urged lawmakers to ensure the process promotes transparency, accountability, and sustainable funding for Nigeria's aviation agencies. Flight activities were significantly disrupted last week due to industrial action by aviation unions over unresolved issues.

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We believe the time has come for fresh leadership at the NCAA. Capt. Najomo should take responsibility and resign in the interest of the aviation industry and the travelling public.