The League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) has called on the Federal Government to ensure industry-wide consultation before implementing major fiscal and regulatory decisions affecting the aviation sector.
The League said meaningful engagement among the government, aviation agencies, airlines, airport operators, labour, investors and other stakeholders is necessary to ensure that policies reflect the realities of the industry and do not undermine its sustainability.
President of LAAC, Sulaiman Idris, while speaking at its 30th Annual Conference in Lagos on Thursday, with the theme: “Towards a Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing Government Revenue Demands with Sector Growth”, said consultation should go beyond informing stakeholders about decisions that have already been taken.
According to him, industry players should be involved before policies are finalised, stressing that the concerns of those directly affected by fiscal and regulatory measures must be considered in the decision-making process.
“Consultation should not merely be about informing stakeholders of decisions that have already been taken. It should involve meaningful dialogue in which industry concerns are considered before policies are finalised,” Idris said.
He maintained that the aviation industry must have a seat at the table when major decisions affecting its operations are being considered.
The LAAC president identified the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC) debates among the issues requiring objective consideration, alongside broader questions of government revenue generation and the financial realities of aviation operators.
He highlighted that government has legitimate revenue requirements to fund critical areas of national development, while government-owned and regulated aviation institutions also require sustainable revenue to discharge their statutory responsibilities.
He, however, said revenue generation must be considered against the sector’s capacity to grow, noting that the critical question was how much revenue the aviation industry could reasonably bear without undermining its development.
Idris also urged stakeholders to look beyond the issue of how aviation revenues are shared and focus on what the funds are expected to achieve.
He said there should be greater clarity on the proportion of revenue required for regulation, safety and security, infrastructure development and the modernisation of air navigation systems, as well as stronger accountability and transparency in their utilisation.
The association made the call at a time when questions around aviation charges, sector financing and the sustainability of operators remain central to discussions on the future of the industry.
Beyond fiscal and regulatory issues, Idris commended the aviation agencies for their roles in maintaining the balance between effective regulation, consumer protection and the creation of an environment in which operators can thrive.
He also acknowledged ongoing efforts to improve airport infrastructure, passenger experience and operational efficiency, as well as initiatives to modernise air navigation infrastructure and improve the efficiency and safety of Nigeria’s airspace.
He noted that investments in infrastructure, regulatory reforms and connectivity demonstrates the importance attached to aviation as a catalyst for economic development, while stressing that more work remain to be done.
Idris urged participants at the conference to approach industry issues with an open mind, stressing the need for government and its agencies to explain their revenue requirements, operators to articulate their financial realities, regulators to explain their statutory responsibilities and investors to identify what would make Nigeria’s aviation sector more attractive.
He also called for passengers’ perspectives to be considered, saying the industry must take into account what travellers expect from aviation operators and service providers.
He expressed confidence that the quality of conversations, insights and recommendations generated at the conference would contribute to building a more competitive, resilient and sustainable Nigerian aviation industry.
The LAAC president reaffirmed the League’s commitment to factual, balanced, responsible and development-oriented journalism.
