Aviation University seeks inclusion in 5% ticket sales charge for sustainable funding

Stakeholders in the Aviation sector of the Nigerian Economy has advocated the inclusion of the Africa Aviation and Aerospace University, Abuja in the sharing formular of the 5 percent ticket charge distributed among agencies in the sector.

Speaking at a public hearing on two bills organised by the House Committee on Aviation, Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi said the future of Nigeria’s aviation industry depends not only on funding infrastructure and regulation, but also on investing in the people who will design, regulate, operate and sustain that infrastructure.

He said the African Aviation and Aerospace University was established to fulfil this national responsibility, adding that Including AAAU in the Ticket Sales Charge revenue-sharing formula will provide a sustainable funding mechanism that strengthens the entire aviation ecosystem, enhances safety, builds indigenous capacity and advances Nigeria’s ambition to become the leading aviation hub in Africa

He said the planned amendment of the laws governing the sharing formular presents an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation sector by ensuring that funding is aligned not only with operational responsibilities but also with the long-term sustainability of aviation manpower development.

He said the institution should be recognized as a statutory beneficiary of the Ticket Sales Charge revenue, occupying a unique position within Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem because it is the only specialised university in the country dedicated to aviation, aerospace and allied discipline in Nigeria.

Accoding to him, agencies in the aviation industry depends primarily on competent professionals, adding that without these qualified professionals, none of the statutory agencies can effectively discharge their mandates.

According to him, investing in the institution is in effect, investment in the NCAA, NAMA, NiMet, FAAN, NSIB and every future aviation institution, stressing that globally, sustainable aviation systems devote dedicated funding to institutions responsible for aviation education, research, innovation and manpower development.

He stressed that revenue generated from aviation users should not only finance current operations but also build the next generation of aviation professionals, saying Nigeria cannot sustainably expand its aviation industry while relying solely on annual budgetary allocations to finance its only specialised aviation university.

He said the revenue sharing should reflect the entire aviation value chain, stressing that the current arrangement largely recognises operational agencies, even though the sector is sustained by four pillars of Regulation, Air Navigation Services, Safety Oversight and Human Capital Development

He said “the first three pillars receive statutory funding. The fourth pillar, the institution responsible for developing aviation professionals does not with the current formular. This creates an imbalance that should be corrected through this amendment.

“It is noteworthy that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), formerly the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), now operates outside the direct supervision of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, having been moved under the Presidency.

“This institutional change presents an opportunity for the National Assembly to review the existing sharing formula and appropriately accommodate AAAU as a strategic aviation institution dedicated to manpower development.

“Additional funding will enable AAAU to establish internationally accredited aviation laboratories, expand aerospace engineering laboratories, support aviation research and innovation, train future aviation professionals locally rather than abroad, reduce dependence on foreign aviation institutions and produce industry-ready graduates.

“The African Aviation and Aerospace University respectfully prays the National Assembly to, recognise AAAU as a statutory beneficiary of the 5% Ticket Sales Charge, amend the Civil Aviation Act to expressly include AAAU in the revenue-sharing framework and allocate not less than 10% of the Ticket Sales Charge to AAAU in recognition of its strategic role in developing aviation manpower, promoting research and innovation, and supporting the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s aviation sector”.

In his presentation, Business Consultant, Human Capital Associate Global Consult, Olusegun Lijofi said the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) needs a strong support base to bridge severe human resource gaps, build critical research infrastructure for air safety, and sustain specialized education as a public institution addressing industry manpower shortages.

He said a special intervention by the government backed by a concrete legislative framework is not just necessary, but will serve as a stitch in time, “because fixing AAAU is a giant stride towards resolving one of the pressing challenges in the continent, which is a huge manpower deficit in the Aviation Sector.