The House Committee on Delegated Legislation of the National Assembly has called for stronger legislative oversight and regulatory measures to improve Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The committee made the call during a familiarisation visit to the Corporate Headquarters of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, in Abuja.
Receiving the committee, the Director General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, stressed the importance of sustained engagement between the NCAA and the National Assembly to ensure that aviation regulations remain responsive and aligned with International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, standards.
Captain Najomo said the Civil Aviation Act 2022, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 and other regulatory instruments provide the legal framework for the NCAA’s safety, security, economic regulation and consumer protection responsibilities.
The Chairman of the Committee, Rt. Hon. Olufemi Richard Bamishile, said the visit was aimed at strengthening cooperation with the NCAA and gaining a better understanding of its rule-making process.
He raised concerns over outstanding statutory remittances by airlines and called for legislative amendments that would allow the immediate deduction and remittance of applicable funds to the NCAA.
A member of the Committee, Hon. Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, sought clarification on recurring flight delays and cancellations, as well as measures being adopted by the authority to prevent such disruptions.
Responding, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu, attributed some previous disruptions to inadequate aircraft capacity, explaining that the unavailability of one aircraft could affect passengers on several routes.
He said additional aircraft were being introduced through dry-lease arrangements, while the NCAA was also developing a system that would enable affected passengers to be rebooked on other airlines.
On the proposed legislative amendments, the Director of Legal Services, Mrs. Mary Tufano-Eche, said the review of the Civil Aviation Act was at its final stage with the Ministry of Justice and would be further updated before being presented to the National Assembly.
The meeting ended with both institutions agreeing to sustain engagement on delegated legislation, regulatory reforms, aviation safety and consumer protection.