TSC dispute disrupts Air Peace operations, leaves passengers stranded
By Raymond Enoch
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has appealed to aviation unions to suspend their ongoing industrial action over the disputed Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), warning that continued disruption of flight operations could further inconvenience passengers and deepen tensions within the aviation sector.
The appeal was made by the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, following disruptions to Air Peace operations in Lagos and Abuja, with some passengers reportedly left stranded as the industrial action took effect.
Najomo urged the unions to “sheathe their swords” and return to the negotiating table, stressing that the dispute should be resolved through dialogue rather than actions capable of disrupting air travel and affecting the wider travelling public.
The NCAA said it was particularly concerned about the impact of the industrial action on passengers and other aviation stakeholders, noting that scheduled flights had already been affected.
According to the regulatory authority, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has been actively working towards resolving the issues at the centre of the dispute and is expected to continue the process upon his return.
The latest development follows renewed protests by aviation unions over the alleged non-remittance of the statutory five per cent TSC collected by airlines on tickets for flights originating from Nigeria.
The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) had issued ultimatums to affected airlines, demanding the settlement of outstanding TSC obligations.
The unions maintain that failure by some airlines to remit the statutory charge has deprived aviation agencies of critical funds required for regulatory, safety and operational responsibilities, while also raising concerns over workers’ welfare and conditions of service.
However, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) rejected the planned industrial action, describing it as misguided and warning that any disruption of airline operations would further compound the difficulties confronting carriers already grappling with high aviation fuel costs and multiple industry charges.
Despite the opposition from airline operators, the unions proceeded with the action, resulting in the initial disruption of Air Peace operations in Lagos and Abuja.
The NCAA, in its latest intervention, warned against allowing the disagreement to degenerate into a prolonged confrontation that could undermine passenger confidence and further disrupt activities across the aviation industry.
The authority disclosed that a meeting convened by the Aviation Minister last week to address the dispute could not hold because airline operators failed to honour the invitation.
Against this backdrop, the NCAA appealed to all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation, expressing confidence that the outstanding issues could be resolved and normal flight operations restored.
The regulator also moved to reassure passengers that the industrial action had not compromised aviation safety, stressing that it remained fully committed to carrying out its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.
The TSC is a statutory five per cent levy collected by airlines on behalf of the NCAA. Under the existing revenue-sharing arrangement, the NCAA receives 56 per cent of the proceeds, while the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) receives 22 per cent, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) nine per cent, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) seven per cent and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) six per cent.
The disagreement, however, has expanded beyond the issue of remittance, with a proposal before the National Assembly seeking to alter the existing distribution formula. Under the proposed arrangement, NAMA’s share would increase from 22 per cent to 40 per cent, while the NCAA’s allocation would be reduced from 56 per cent to 40 per cent.
The NCAA has opposed the proposed reduction. Najomo had previously argued that the TSC accounts for about 85 per cent of the authority’s revenue and is therefore critical to its ability to perform essential safety oversight functions, including certification, licensing, inspections and regulatory supervision.
With the dispute now spilling into actual flight operations, the NCAA’s position is unequivocal: dialogue must replace confrontation, while passengers must not be made casualties of an industry dispute.
The immediate priority, according to the regulator, is to restore normal flight operations while allowing the process being led by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to address the underlying disagreements surrounding the TSC.
The NCAA’s message to the unions is therefore a simple but urgent appeal: suspend the industrial action, sheathe your swords, return to dialogue and give the resolution process another chance.