FAAN, Airlines, States Owe NAMA N34.69bn, Unions Raise The Alarm

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is owed more than N34.69 billion by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), airlines, state governments, and corporate organisations, a development that aviation unions say threatens the agency’s financial stability and ability to discharge its statutory responsibilities.

The unions warned that the mounting debt burden has weakened NAMA’s liquidity, making it difficult for the agency to meet operational and statutory obligations, including remittances due to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

The disclosure came as the Joint In-house Unions of NAMA confirmed that NiMet had suspended its planned nationwide industrial action following the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and an agreement to establish a new framework for resolving inter-agency revenue disputes.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and copied to NAMA’s Managing Director, Ahmed Farouk, the unions said the agency had continued to remit funds to NiMet despite its financial challenges.

The letter was jointly signed by the Branch Chairmen of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Oluwole Dada; the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Afatakpa Evuarherhe; the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Abah Mathias; and Tukur M.S.A. for the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).

According to the unions, NAMA remitted about N400 million to NiMet between April and June 2026, demonstrating its commitment to meeting statutory obligations despite severe financial constraints.

They, however, noted that as of April 30, 2026, the agency was owed over N34.69 billion in domestic receivables and approximately $49.48 million in foreign receivables.

The unions disclosed that FAAN accounted for the largest domestic debt with N23.94 billion, followed by NAPIMS (Osubi Airport) with N2.05 billion, Arik Air with N2.27 billion, Aero Contractors with N1.07 billion, Bauchi State Government with N902.87 million, Ogun State Government with N465.15 million, Taraba State Government (Jalingo Airport) with N309.35 million, Merry Aviation with N143.38 million, and ExxonMobil with N58.46 million.

They added that foreign airlines and operators owed the agency more than $21.84 million, contributing to a total foreign debt profile of over $49 million.

The unions further accused the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) of failing to remit NAMA’s statutory share of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) for the past four months, describing the revenue as one of the agency’s major sources of funding.

According to them, the combined impact of unpaid debts and delayed statutory remittances has placed enormous financial pressure on NAMA, which is responsible for providing air traffic management, communication, navigation, surveillance and other critical air navigation services across the country’s airspace.

The letter stated: “These outstanding debts have significantly weakened NAMA’s liquidity, making it increasingly difficult for the agency to meet its operational, statutory and inter-agency financial obligations promptly.”

The unions warned that unless the Federal Government urgently intervenes to recover the outstanding debts and release NAMA’s share of the Ticket Sales Charge, workers may be forced to embark on an indefinite industrial action.

They urged the government to direct all debtors to settle verified obligations immediately, release outstanding statutory revenues, establish a sustainable debt recovery mechanism and convene a meeting of aviation stakeholders to resolve the lingering financial disputes.

Meanwhile, NiMet has suspended its planned nationwide protest after an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

In a circular to members, the leadership of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency Joint Action Committee (NJAC) said the decision followed assurances by the ministry that concrete steps were being taken to address the lingering revenue-sharing issues affecting the agency.

The union said stakeholders agreed to develop a permanent framework to clear accumulated revenue backlogs and prevent future disputes, while a monthly revenue-sharing mechanism among aviation agencies would also be introduced.

According to the circular, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry directed NAMA to submit its statement of account to verify claims relating to outstanding remittances to NiMet.

The union said it decided to suspend the planned protest to allow the verification process to be completed and promised to brief members during a nationwide congress after the exercise.

It appealed to members to remain calm, expressing optimism that the ongoing engagements with the ministry would produce a lasting solution to the revenue impasse and improve staff welfare.