Senate orders NAMA to suspend new charges on airline operators

By -
(Nigeria) The Senate Committee on Aviation has directed the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, to suspend the new charges on airline operators pending the outcome of a stakeholders meeting.
The Sen. Hope Uzodinma (PDP-Imo) led committee gave the directive on Monday in Abuja following a meeting with the relevant stakeholders in the aviation industry.
The operators had complained to the committee that NAMA had contravened the Aviation Act by asking them to pay the fees without consulting the relevant stakeholders as was stipulated by law.
Spokesman for the operators, Mr Bala Ibn Na’allah told the committee that if the contravention was allowed to subsist, it would be in disregard of democratic norms.
``The law in Section 12 says that all the powers given to the Civil Aviation Authority in the exercise of its powers to make regulations, the authority shall consult with stakeholders including airlines. The complaints of the non-schedule airline operators are that no one is consulted before this decision was taken, ’’Na’allah said.
Na'allah, a former member of the House of Representatives also complained that NAMA was asking operators to pay these charges in dollars rather than Naira, the Nigerian currency.
 The Managing Director of NAMA, Mr Nnamdi Udo, however, told the committee that NAMA was empowered by the law to generate revenue for the country.
He told the committee that although the operators had a choice to pay either in dollars or naira, they were not compelled to pay in dollars.
Having listened to both sides, the committee concluded that the recent charges introduced be suspended until NAMA had consulted with the relevant stakeholders.
The committee also advised NAMA to always avail the operators with relevant information as regards the sector.
Uzodinma also advised the operators not to frustrate the efforts of government in its drive to generate revenue for the economy.
``Consultation is very necessary and there is need for a stakeholder’s retreat where clarifications will be made and consensus reached.
``No one will allow NAMA to collect levy charges but you must also bear in mind that it has to be done in consultation with stakeholders.
``So choose a date for the stakeholders to meet immediately, ’’ he said.
NAMA had written to the operators asking that all Nigerian registered aircraft engaging in non-scheduled operations shall forthwith pay $2,500 for every departure.
The letter also said all foreign registered aircraft engaging in non-schedule operations should forthwith pay $3,000.
NAMA said that these were part of measures to checkmate the activities of private jet owners who used their jets for commercial purposes.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

UBTH @50: Obaseki hails institution’s role in strengthening Edo healthcare

By -
Image
(Nigeria) Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has commended the staff and management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, for their unwavering commitment, dedication, and hard work in providing high-quality healthcare services to the people of Edo State and Nigeria in the past fifty years. Obaseki, at a dinner organized in honour of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors of Nigeria, at the Government House, Benin City, reassured the government’s continuous partnership and collaboration with the federal government-owned health institution to strengthen the health system and ensure quality health delivery to Edo people. The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, reeled out the gains of the government’s reforms in the health sector, commending the medical centre for bolstering the government’s efforts at transforming Edo State into a health hub. He said, "We came into a wilderness where you have to cut a part for yourself and fix it. We held...
Read more

Osun: S'Court ruling affirmed power resides with the people - Diri

By -
Image
*Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (Nigeria) Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the ruling of the country’s apex court on the Osun State governorship election was an affirmation that power in a democracy resided with the people. Governor Diri, while congratulating Senator Ademola Adeleke in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday, expressed joy that the Supreme Court sealed the mandate freely given to the governor by the Osun people. The Bayelsa governor also said the verdict reflected the current mood of the country where those whose stock-in-trade is to promote electoral violence and subvert the will of the people have no place in our electoral system. He expressed the hope that introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, will instil more confidence in the electoral process, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deepen Nigeria’s democracy by also introducing electronic votin...
Read more

NBC has no powers to impose fine on broadcast stations --Court

By -
Image
(Nigeria) The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has been restrained by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, from imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country. Trial judge in the matter, Justice James Omotosho also set aside the N500,000 fines imposed on March 1, 2019, on each of 45 broadcast stations. The court made the orders in its judgment a suit by the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda, MRA, which had sued the NBC. Justice Omotosho held that the NBC, not being a court of law, had no power to impose sanctions as punishment on broadcast stations. The court further held that the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which gives the commission the power to impose sanction, is in conflict with Section 6 of the Constitution that vested judicial power in the court of law. He said the court would not sit idle and watch a body imposing fine arbitrarily without recourse to the law. He said that the commission did not comply with the law when it sat as a complainant and at...
Read more