Management of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has insisted that it would enforce all possible regulatory means to ensure that domestic airlines operating in the country pay the sum of N15 billion they owe.
The amount which has began to have crippling effects on the oversight duties of NCAA is the accumulation of 5% passenger and cargo service the airlines collected on behalf of aviation agencies but refuse to remit.
NCAa which has said categorically that there is no going back on its earlier directive on automation of remittance of the 5 per cent ticket and cargo sales charges, warned that any airline that fails to comply will be viewed seriously.
The warning became necessary following the expiration of the March 31, 2017 deadline given to the domestic by NCAA to automate their remittance of 5 per cent.NCAA’s equivocal statement was made in an online press release issued by the General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye.
“For the purpose of clarity, the regulatory authority wishes to state that the 5% ticket and cargo sales charges are revenue accruable to the aviation agencies through NCAA. This is contained in Part V Section 12(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006.This section merely mandates the Airlines to collect the charges paid by the passengers on behalf of NCAA and remit same appropriately and in real time which have not been so” NCAA stated in the statement.
The regulatory body stated that there was no ambiguity with regard to the components of the billing of the charges and that Part 18.12.4. of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs 2015) clearly provides that ,“the 5% air ticket sales charge shall be based on the total cost of travel paid by passengers to the airline. This shall be the cost of ticket inclusive of fuel surcharge or any other charge added to the total cost of travel by the airline exclusive of government value added tax or any other tax that may be imposed by government from time to time.
NCAA added that for the avoidance of doubt, all airline operators should be guided by Part 18.12.5.which says “all domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria shall forward to the authority through an electronic platform provided by the Authority, all relevant documents such as flown coupons, passenger or cargo manifests, air waybills, load sheets, clients’ service invoices and other documents necessary for accurate billing within 48 hours after each flight.
The statement further pointed out that in realisation of this, the Federal Government of Nigeria had approved the introduction of Aviation Revenue Automation Project (ARAP) for revenue collection to aid data integrity, transparency, transaction accountability, controls and revenue assurance to the authority in 2011,adding that this is at no cost to the operators.
NCAA said that to facilitate easy and seamless remittance therefore, Part 18.12.6. says “all Nigerian licensed airlines shall join the IATA/BSP for the purpose of remittance of 5% sales charges, and shall execute a contract to that effect.
”Regrettably, the regulatory body said the domestic airline operators have not joined the International Air Transport Association/Billing Settlement Plan (IATA/BSP) and that this brought about the Aviation Revenue Automation Projects (ARAP) to serve as an alternate means of compliance to smooth remittance provided by the authority in line with Federal Government’s directive.“It is pertinent to point out that NCAA is an autonomous regulatory agency therefore it continues to remain solvent by cost recovery in line with ICAO Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs).This can only be derived from the 5% ticket and cargo sales charges statutorily. This directive to automate covers both domestic and foreign airlines. However; the foreign airlines have complied fully by remitting their collections through the IATA/BSP”NCAA said.
On the call for review, NCAA said, “This is definitely out of the purview of the airlines. Any review should be at the behest of the NCAA using Part 18.12.3, which states ‘the Authority may review the 5% air ticket, contract, charter and cargo sales charge from time to time in consultation with stakeholders.”
The regulatory body stated that despite the astronomical cost of operation, the authority had never carried out a review since inception, adding that this is to encourage sustained and increased patronage for the air transport industry.
NCAA recalled that the decision to collect the charges was a suggestion by the airlines operators in 2001 and that it was unanimously adopted agreement signed by all parties after series of meetings and exchange of correspondences and was subsequently enshrined in all the subsisting regulations.
The airline operators, NCAA stated should be aware that the authority was looking into all the issues raised in their letter even as it advised the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to ensure adequate compliance with the automation and remit their collection as appropr
