NCAA engineers oppose national body's stance on aviation funding review

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has distanced itself from recent statements made by the association's national leadership regarding the proposed review of the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) sharing formula. The NCAA chapter stated that it was neither consulted nor represented in the position taken by the national body.

In a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Agunloye Fredrick, the NCAA chapter expressed that the publication attributed to the NAAE National President did not reflect the views of its members. "The attention of the NCAA Chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has been drawn to recent media publications credited to the National President of NAAE regarding the proposed review of the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) sharing formula," the communiqué read.

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The attention of the NCAA Chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has been drawn to recent media publications credited to the National President of NAAE regarding the proposed review of the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) sharing formula.

The chapter criticized the process, asserting that members across aviation agencies should have been consulted before any public statement was issued. "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," it added.

Consequently, the engineers stressed that the Ticket Sales Charge is a statutory levy collected from airline passengers and shared among aviation agencies due to their unique roles in ensuring aviation safety, security, and efficiency. They highlighted that the NCAA, as the industry's economic and safety regulator, relies significantly on its TSC allocation to fund essential activities such as airline and airport certification, safety surveillance, economic regulation, and meeting international standards.

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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.