NAMA and NCAA dispute ticket levy sharing formula

A proposal before the National Assembly seeks to increase NAMA's share, leading to concerns from NCAA labor unions that this could weaken safety oversight. However, industry experts argue that NAMA, responsible for operating Nigeria's aviation infrastructure 24/7, carries a significant operational burden. NAMA's responsibilities include maintaining sophisticated Communication, Navigation and Surveillance technologies, which require substantial capital investment and continuous maintenance, often in remote areas with unreliable electricity.

Retired pilot Mohammed Badamosi highlighted NAMA's larger workforce and extensive equipment maintenance across the country, contrasting it with NCAA's smaller regional offices. Currently, NCAA receives about 56 percent of the Ticket Sales Charge, while NAMA receives 23 percent. The Joint Action Committee of the NCAA suggests commercializing or partially privatizing NAMA as a more sustainable funding solution.

However, proponents of the bill argue that stronger statutory funding is immediately needed. Former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Group Captain John Ojikutu, called for a rational review of the revenue-sharing formula based on objective parameters like personnel strength, operational spread, and infrastructure ownership, rather than sentiments or