Unpaid Charges: Aviation Unions Demand Immediate Remittance
Nigeria’s aviation unions have issued a 14-day ultimatum to airlines operating in the country, demanding the immediate remittance of unpaid charges, outstanding 5% Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) owed to aviation agencies. The unions warned that failure to comply could trigger actions capable of disrupting the nation’s aviation sector over safety concerns.
The demand was contained in a joint letter dated 8 July 2026 and addressed to the Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON). The letter was jointly issued by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN). It was signed by ATSSSAN General Secretary, Comrade Frances Akinjole, and NUATE Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Odinaka Igbokwe.
The unions expressed concern over what they described as the failure of many airlines to remit the statutory 5% Ticket Sales Charge collected on behalf of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other aviation agencies. According to them, the accumulated unpaid charges and outstanding remittances have run into several billions of naira, although the letter did not state the exact amount involved.
They argued that the non-remittance of these unpaid charges has significantly weakened the revenue profile of aviation agencies, creating financial constraints that affect their statutory responsibilities and the overall operation of the aviation sector. Consequently, they warned that the situation poses a threat to aviation safety.
The letter stated: “The continued non-remittance of these statutory funds is grossly unacceptable because it undermines the financial stability of the Agencies whose statutory functions depend on these remittances. It must be appreciated that TSC is not a profit, but resources meant to facilitate safe air. Hence, the Agencies are mere cost recovery organisations.”
The unions further stressed that the Ticket Sales Charge is a statutory obligation backed by Nigerian law and supported by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) provisions. They noted that ICAO Doc 9734 on Safety Oversight requires sustainable and stable funding for aviation oversight agencies, with the TSC serving as one of the principal funding sources collected from passengers through airline tickets. They added that the accumulation of unpaid charges continues to undermine the financial sustainability of the agencies.
According to the unions, airlines merely collect the charge on behalf of the aviation agencies and are expected to remit the funds promptly in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act and other applicable regulations. Therefore, they insisted that any delay in remittance of these unpaid charges deprives the agencies of operational funds required to maintain aviation safety oversight.
The joint statement demanded that all affected airlines settle any outstanding unpaid charges within 14 days. In addition, the unions warned that failure to comply would compel organised labour to take decisive action to protect the aviation industry.
The letter stated: “Failure to comply with this demand within the stipulated period will leave the Aviation Unions with no alternative but to employ every means necessary to ensure that the entire Nigerian aviation sector does not go aground because of air safety issues necessitated by the actions and inactions of the entities stifling the Agencies of their required operational funds.”
However, it remains unclear exactly how much the unpaid charges in outstanding Ticket Sales Charges (TSC) amount to. While the unions claimed the remittances have accumulated into several billions of naira over the months and years, they did not state a specific figure or provide a breakdown of the amounts allegedly owed by the affected airlines. Consequently, the total value of the unpaid charges could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, the unions urged airline operators to act swiftly to avoid what they described as an avoidable industrial comatose. They maintained that the prompt remittance of the unpaid charges remains essential for sustaining the operations of aviation agencies and ensuring the continued safety and efficiency of Nigeria’s air transport system.
