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

The National Aviation Stakeholders Forum (NASF) has demanded the resignation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, alleging regulatory failures and poor handling of disputes. These failures resulted in industrial action by aviation unions, leading to disrupted flight operations, canceled flights, and passenger inconvenience. The forum, comprising aviation experts, contends that the NCAA should have resolved the underlying disputes before they escalated.

The controversy over the 5% Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) has exposed significant concerns regarding the collection, remittance, and management of funds from passengers. NASF has urged the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the TSC fund's management, requesting records of TSC collections and remittances, identifying outstanding liabilities, and scrutinizing the enforcement measures taken against defaulting operators.

The forum emphasizes that the issue should not revolve around the percentage of the 5% TSC received by different parties. Instead, Nigerians deserve transparency regarding the amount collected, remitted, and the subsequent utilization of these funds. NASF calls for a transparent, technology-driven system that can track ticket sales, TSC collections, and remittances in real-time, aiming to eliminate loopholes and prevent similar disputes from disrupting flight operations.

Critically, the forum faults the NCAA leadership for allowing the dispute to deteriorate into an industrial crisis. They argue that passengers should not bear the burden of disagreements between aviation agencies, airlines, and unions. NASF believes the time has come for fresh leadership at the NCAA, urging Capt. Najomo to resign in the interest of the aviation industry and the traveling public.

The group commends the National Assembly for engaging stakeholders on the TSC sharing formula and urges lawmakers to ensure that the outcome promotes transparency, accountability, and sustainable funding for Nigeria's aviation agencies.