The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has suspended its planned enforcement of the “no pay, no service” directive against airlines with outstanding statutory remittances.
The decision followed extensive consultations within the aviation sector and a review of prevailing operational challenges, particularly the rising cost of aviation fuel and its impact on airline operations and industry stability, the Authority said in a statement.
It clarified that the suspension does not amount to a waiver, cancellation, or forgiveness of the debts owed by the affected airlines.
According to the Authority, President Bola Tinubu had earlier approved a 30 percent discount on outstanding fees owed by domestic airlines to aviation agencies, including the NCAA, as part of efforts to cushion the effects of high Jet A1 fuel prices and stabilize the aviation industry.
It noted that all affected operators remain fully responsible for the settlement of their statutory obligations, adding that it would continue structured engagements with individual airlines to ensure debt recovery without disrupting sector operations.
The NCAA further explained that the five percent Ticket and Cargo Sales Charge is a statutory levy established under the Civil Aviation Act and embedded in the cost of air travel and cargo services in Nigeria.
It stated that the charge is collected by airlines at the point of ticket and cargo sales on behalf of the aviation ecosystem and is expected to be remitted to the Authority for designated purposes.
According to the statement, the funds are distributed among the NCAA and other aviation service providers responsible for maintaining safe, efficient, and internationally compliant aviation operations.
It also emphasized that it operates on a cost-recovery basis and does not receive direct Federal Government funding for its routine regulatory activities, making statutory remittances critical to sustaining oversight functions.
The NCAA said the temporary suspension of the enforcement measure was aimed at maintaining operational stability in the aviation sector while ongoing engagements continue toward full settlement of outstanding obligations.
It explained that the decision reflects a balance between regulatory enforcement and the need to avoid disruptions in the industry while ensuring that statutory charges collected by airlines are remitted for their intended purposes.
