Nigeria’s House of Representatives has reaffirmed its commitment to aligning the country’s aviation laws with international best practices to strengthen the sector’s regulatory framework.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, made the commitment at a public hearing by the Committee on Aviation to consider two significant Bills currently before the House, in Abuja.
He said that the Bills aim to update and strengthen the financial framework of Nigeria’s aviation industry by introducing transparent, automated remittance of the statutory 5% Passenger/Cargo Service Charges, improving how revenues are shared among key aviation institutions, and enhancing the capacity of these agencies to effectively manage and safeguard our airspace.
He said that at their core, the proposals are about improving safety, efficiency, investor confidence, and the quality of service enjoyed by the Nigerian travelling public.
“The first is a Bill for an Act to Amend the Civil Aviation Act, 2022, to provide for the automated remittance of funds accruing to aviation agencies, revise the revenue-sharing formula, reflect the renaming of the Accident Investigation Bureau to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, and for related matters.
“The second is a Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (Establishment) Act, 2022, to revise the percentage of statutory charges accruing to the Agency, and for related matters,” Mr Abass said.
He noted that the House is committed to making laws that guarantee stable and sustainable funding for vital agencies, and promote the growth of aviation as a driver of commerce, tourism, and national development.
He therefore encourages all stakeholders to be candid, precise, and solution-driven in their submissions.
“We expect you not only to identify areas that may raise concern, but also to suggest practical alternatives that will help us realise our shared goals of safety, transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability,” he added.
The Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Mr Abdullahi Garba, commended the stakeholders for attending the public hearing.
“Your presence reflects your commitment to the safety and development of Nigeria’s aviation sector,” Mr Garba said.
In his remarks, the Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, said that the Nigerian aviation sector deserves legislation that would improve safety, regulations and services.
Stakeholders at the public hearing made various proposals on the way forward for the aviation sector.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Mr Farouk Ahmed Umar, said that the aviation training must be excellent.
He said that “Today, NAMA receive on every ₦1,000 of qualifying ticket, charter or cargo sales, the five per cent charge produces ₦50. NAMA receives ₦11 from that ₦50. Our effective share is therefore 1.10 per cent of the underlying sale. If this number is changed to 56 per cent, NAMA would receive ₦28 from the same ₦50. The five per cent charge itself would not increase.”
He said that the increment would not burden the passenger.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other stakeholders called for an increase in revenue, especially an increase in the 5% ticket fee.
The African Aviation and Aerospace University urged the National Assembly to recognise AAAU as a statutory beneficiary of the 5% Ticket Sales Charge.
The Ag. Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Mustapha Abdullahi, said that the amendment presents an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation sector by ensuring that funding is aligned not only with operational responsibilities but also with the long-term sustainability of aviation manpower development.
Agencies in the sector and industry players commended the public hearing, saying it would address challenges in the aviation sector.
