Airlines get another ultimatum on debts

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday issued a fresh two-week ultimatum for airlines to remit their outstanding debts accruable from the  five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC).
 This is the second time the aviation authority is issuing ultimatum to airlines which have defaulted in the remittance of the charges.
It would be recalled that the NCAA had on July 30 issued a 30-day ultimatum which lapsed on Monday.
 Following the failure of the affected airlines to pay up as demanded, the NCAA yesterday published an advertorial where it gave another two-week ultimatum and threatened to take appropriate punitive measures against defaulting airlines.
 Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman,  said all airlines “that are still dragging their feet over remittance of outstanding debts accruable from the 5% Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC) would be sanctioned”.
However, Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Capt. Noggie Meggison told our correspondent that he was surprised by the fresh ultimatum, saying the airlines are already reconciling their books with a view to resolving the lingering issue.
This, he said, was the outcome of meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Hajia Binta Bello, with the NCAA boss and airline operators in attendance. 
 “I don’t believe this is coming from Aviation because we are all trying to put our house in order and again, we are going to meet again. We had a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Aviation, the NCAA boss and all members of the airline Association were there, where we agreed to go back and do our books and reconvene,” he said.