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In-house unions of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have rejected any proposal capable of undermining Nigeria’s sovereign control over strategic aviation infrastructure, insisting that the country’s airspace and critical navigation systems must remain protected as national assets.
The unions also called for a fair review of the Ticket Service Charge (TSC) sharing formula to reflect NAMA’s safety-critical responsibilities and increase the agency’s allocation.
The unions, comprising the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), made their position known while reacting to calls for the privatisation or commercialisation of NAMA.
They expressed concern over a publication credited to the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which reportedly called on the Federal Government to privatise or commercialise NAMA.
According to the unions, such a recommendation raises serious concerns about the understanding of the responsibilities entrusted to stakeholders operating within a safety-critical aviation environment.
They argued that at a time when the aviation industry requires professionalism, technical understanding, collaboration and collective commitment to protecting national assets, it was unfortunate that representatives within a critical aviation regulatory institution would advance a position that appeared not to fully appreciate the strategic importance, security sensitivity and international obligations associated with Air Navigation Services (ANS).
The unions maintained that NAMA is not an ordinary commercial organisation established primarily for profit generation but a strategic national institution responsible for the safe management of Nigeria’s sovereign airspace.
They said the agency manages and protects some of the country’s most critical operational infrastructure and aviation information systems, including aeronautical databases and Aeronautical Information Management systems, aeronautical charts and airspace structures, instrument flight procedures and navigation information, as well as Communication, Navigation and Surveillance infrastructure.
The labour bodies cautioned that any discussion about NAMA’s funding must take into account the agency’s enormous responsibilities, stressing that it does not merely collect revenue but continuously invests in what they described as invisible but critical safety layers required for safe flight operations.
“Nigeria’s airspace is a sovereign national asset. The safety of millions of passengers must never be subjected to poorly considered policy experiments. NAMA is not for sale. Nigeria’s airspace is not for sale. Safety is not negotiable. Fund NAMA. Strengthen NAMA. Modernise NAMA. Protect NAMA,” the unions declared.
They further demanded that aviation-generated revenue should be strictly protected and deployed for aviation development, while sustained investment should be made in the modernisation of Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management systems.
The unions also called for adequate funding of NAMA in its capacity as Nigeria’s Air Navigation Service Provider.
According to them, NAMA remains a critical national aviation infrastructure provider whose responsibilities have direct implications for public safety, national security and Nigeria’s international obligations.
“Any action, recommendation or policy direction that could compromise the integrity, protection, funding, operational control or security of such a strategic national asset should not be treated as a mere administrative discussion but must be subjected to the highest level of national security scrutiny under relevant laws,” they stated.
The unions noted that the protection of Nigeria’s sovereign airspace goes beyond aviation responsibility and constitutes a national security matter.
They warned that any deliberate action capable of weakening critical aviation infrastructure or exposing sensitive operational systems to avoidable risks must attract appropriate institutional attention and accountability.
On the sharing of the TSC, the unions said the consideration of increasing NAMA’s allocation to 40 per cent, if implemented, would demonstrate the Federal Government’s appreciation of the strategic importance of Air Navigation Services and the urgent need to adequately fund systems that guarantee the safe, efficient and secure management of Nigeria’s airspace.
“The proposed increase of NAMA’s allocation to 40 per cent is therefore not an act of competition against any agency; it is an investment in aviation safety and national infrastructure. A regulator requires a capable service provider to regulate,” the unions said.
They stressed that adequate funding was necessary to enable NAMA to sustain and modernise critical air navigation infrastructure, meet its international obligations and maintain the operational systems required for the safe movement of aircraft within Nigeria’s airspace.
The unions consequently urged the Federal Government and relevant aviation authorities to resist proposals that could weaken NAMA’s operational control or compromise the security of the country’s air navigation infrastructure.
They also commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development for his role in steering the affairs of the aviation industry, expressing support for measures aimed at strengthening critical aviation institutions and improving safety.
The labour bodies reiterated that the debate over NAMA’s funding and operations should be driven by safety, national security and technical considerations rather than purely commercial interests.
