Aviation unions have called on the Federal Government to commercialise or privatise the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), saying the reform would improve air navigation services, strengthen aviation safety and attract private investment.
The Joint Action Committee of unions at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said NAMA's dependence on government funding has delayed the deployment of modern air navigation technology needed to meet international standards.
In a joint statement, the unions said commercialisation would allow the agency to access private capital and invest in advanced systems such as satellite-based surveillance technology.
The unions cited successful models in Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, where privately managed air navigation agencies operate under regulated user-pays systems.
They also criticised NAMA's proposal to increase the Ticket Sales Charge by between 23 and 40 per cent, arguing that the agency should improve operational efficiency instead of placing additional financial burdens on airlines and passengers.
The unions stressed that any reform must preserve the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority's role as the country's independent aviation safety regulator while ensuring greater transparency, accountability and long-term sustainability in Nigeria's airspace management system.
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