TSC War: NAMA unions fire back at NCAA JAC over ‘misguided’ privatisation call

..Say airspace mgt far too strategic for commercial experiment

A fierce row is brewing within Nigeria’s aviation sector as the in-house unions of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have fiercely criticised the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The backlash follows a controversial recommendation by the NCAA JAC calling on the Federal Government to privatise or commercialise NAMA—a move the airspace unions have branded as “misguided” and dangerous to national security.

The NAMA coalition—comprising the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE)—expressed deep disappointment over the proposal, warning that it compromises Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty.

The unions argued that Nigeria’s airspace management system is far too strategic to be subjected to poorly conceived commercial experiments.

They cautioned that transferring sensitive air navigation assets to private interests raises serious questions about the NCAA JAC’s understanding of safety-critical aviation architecture.

“Any aviation stakeholder advocating the transfer of sensitive air navigation responsibilities, including aeronautical databases, surveillance information, communication networks, and strategic operational infrastructure to private commercial interests demonstrates a disturbing misunderstanding of how modern aviation systems operate,” the unions stated.

They stated that the protection of Nigeria’s sovereign airspace is not only an aviation responsibility but also a matter of national security, warning that any deliberate action that could weaken critical aviation infrastructure or expose sensitive operational systems to avoidable risks must attract appropriate institutional attention and accountability.

They also noted that at a time when the aviation industry requires professionalism, technical understanding, collaboration and collective commitment to protecting national assets, it is unfortunate that representatives within a critical aviation regulatory institution would advance a position that appears not to fully appreciate the strategic importance, security sensitivity and international obligations associated with Air Navigation Services (ANS).

Invoking Article 1 of the Chicago Convention, which recognises that every State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory, the unions insisted that NAMA is not a standard, profit-driven enterprise. Instead, it is a vital national security asset whose control must remain strictly within public interest and state oversight.

Defending NAMA’s operational mandate, the unions highlighted the highly specialised, capital-intensive responsibilities the agency bears behind the scenes.

To illustrate the complexity of NAMA’s daily operations, they listed the critical infrastructure under its care to include Aeronautical Information Management (AIM), CNS/ATM Infrastructure, Flight Inspection & Calibration, Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) procedures, Required Navigation Performance (RNP) Approaches and Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Standard Instrument Arrivals (STARs).

The unions emphasised that these safety layers require specialised aircraft, advanced onboard tech, and ongoing financial investment to ensure waypoint accuracy and obstacle clearance before any commercial airline can fly safely.

Peeling back the layers of the sudden push for privatisation, NAMA’s in-house unions pointed to an underlying financial motive. They noted that this aggressive advocacy for privatisation conveniently surfaced just as the Federal Government began reviewing the 5% Ticket Sale Charge (TSC) sharing formula.

“However, the consideration of increasing NAMA’s allocation to 40%, if implemented, clearly demonstrates that the Federal Government appreciates the strategic importance of Air Navigation Services and recognises the urgent need to properly fund the systems that guarantee safe, efficient and secure management of Nigeria’s airspace.”

The unions argued that, rather than looking at NAMA’s request through the lens of safety and infrastructure deficit, certain elements within the NCAA regulatory body are attempting to weaponise policy discussions to protect their financial turf.

While NAMA itself was not privy to any final decision regarding the 40% upward adjustment, the unions maintained that an improved funding structure is critical to sustaining safe skies.

They lauded the Federal Government and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development for recognising that sustainable aviation safety cannot be achieved without adequate investment in the underlying infrastructure.

This bold step, they said, represents a commitment to protecting the flying public, modernising air navigation infrastructure, improving compliance with international standards and ensuring Nigeria continues to maintain a safe, secure and globally respected airspace.

The unions concluded by stating that the issue should never be viewed as an institutional rivalry or a resource grab from sister agencies, but rather as an essential move to empower the backbone of Nigeria’s air navigation system.

They called on the appropriate authorities to conduct a thorough review of the circumstances that led representatives of a critical regulatory institution, such as the NCAA, to publicly advance such a security-compromising position.

Farouk Umar

“For us, the issue has never been about taking resources away from any sister agency. It has always been about ensuring that the institution responsible for maintaining the backbone of Nigeria’s air navigation system is adequately empowered to deliver on its safety mandate. NAMA’s position is not about institutional rivalry. It is about the sustainability of Nigeria’s air navigation system.”

Wole Shadare