The Air Transport Senior Staff
Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has urged domestic airlines to
comply with the directive to automate their remittance of the five per
cent Ticket and Cargo Sales Charges (TSC/CSC).
The President of ATSSSAN, Ahmadu Illitrus, made the call while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Lagos.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority (NCAA) had directed the airlines to automate the remittance of
the charges.
Illitrus said it was unfortunate that some of the
airlines had refused to comply with the directive which was issued to
ensure transparency in revenue collection by NCAA and other aviation
agencies.
According to him, the airlines over the years have been
indebted to the aviation agencies through failure to remit the
statutory charges.
“ What we have witnessed over the years is that the domestic airlines collect the five per cent TSC from passengers.
“They
thereafter refuse to remit to NCAA and or remit only a negligible
percentage of the money and illegally utilise the larger unremitted
percentage, thereby creating a huge deficit of unremitted portion of the
money which now forms what is termed debt,’’ he said.
Illitrus
said effective collection of such charges would help the NCAA to be
financially autonomous in line with the philosophy of the International
Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“Financial autonomy is a key requirement for autonomy of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,’’ he said.
The
ATSSSAN president also debunked the claim by the Airline Operators of
Nigeria (AON) that the NCAA was over taxing its members and running them
out of business.
He added that there was no evidence to back the
allegation as the NCAA was only carrying out its constitutional
responsibility of regulating civil aviation operations in the
country.
“Since commencement of operations in 2000, the NCAA has
invested huge resources in the development of enabling legal and
regulatory framework to ensure safe, secure and economically sound civil
aviation sector in Nigeria,’’ he said.
He said ATSSSAN and other
aviation unions would not hesitate to carry out industrial action
against any airline that refuses to comply with NCAA directives in
the interest of safety and development of the industry
Source:-businessdayonline.com
