The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of unions at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has urged the Federal Government to commercialise or privatise the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), arguing that the move would modernise Nigeria’s air navigation system, improve aviation safety, and align the country with international best practices.
The appeal was contained in a joint statement issued by the branch secretaries of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).
The statement was signed by Obasi Ugwumba (ATSSSAN), Salami J. Adeniyi (ANAP), Omaga Joshua (NUATE), and Celestine N. Chukwu (NAAPE).
According to the unions, NAMA’s heavy reliance on government funding has slowed the acquisition and deployment of modern air navigation technologies required to meet global aviation standards.
They explained that commercialisation or privatisation would allow the agency to attract private investment, raise funds through international capital markets, and finance critical infrastructure such as satellite-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) systems and other advanced navigation technologies.
The unions noted that delays caused by annual budget approvals, shifting government priorities, and bureaucratic processes have hindered essential safety upgrades and infrastructure development.
They added that a commercially operated NAMA would be financially stronger and better positioned to make operational decisions based on safety and efficiency rather than government budget cycles.
To support their argument, the committee cited successful air navigation service providers such as Nav Canada, NATS Holdings in the United Kingdom, and Airways New Zealand, all of which operate under user-funded models that encourage continuous investment in technology and sustainable operations.
The unions also highlighted NAMA’s multiple revenue streams, including en-route charges, overflight fees, its share of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), charter flight services, air traffic services at public and private airports, aeronautical telecommunications, calibration services, obstacle evaluation, aeronautical information services, and Hajj operations.
However, they expressed concerns over what they described as limited transparency surrounding revenue generated from airspace violation penalties and service-hour extension charges, calling on the agency to improve financial accountability and public disclosure.
The committee further criticised NAMA’s proposal before the National Assembly to increase the Ticket Sales Charge by between 23 and 40 per cent, insisting that the agency should first improve operational efficiency and financial management instead of imposing additional costs on operators.
While advocating reform, the unions stressed that the NCAA must remain an independent safety regulator responsible for oversight, inspections, and enforcement in line with the Civil Aviation Act and standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
They proposed either full privatisation or a well-structured Public-Private Partnership (PPP) that would transform NAMA into an independent corporation with private sector participation, clear performance targets, and safeguards to protect national security.
The committee warned that maintaining the current structure could leave Nigeria’s aviation sector lagging behind global standards due to ageing infrastructure, inadequate funding, and operational inefficiencies.
It therefore called on the Federal Government to implement reforms that would ensure a safer, more efficient, and financially sustainable airspace management system for the country.
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