Lawmakers push reforms to strengthen NCAA’s regulatory oversight

The House Committee on Delegated Legislation in the National Assembly recently visited the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at its Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, with discussions centred on strengthening aviation regulatory oversight, legislative reforms, airline compliance, consumer protection and the effectiveness of delegated legislation.

Welcoming the lawmakers, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, emphasised the importance of sustained engagement between the NCAA and the National Assembly, to ensure that Nigeria’s aviation regulatory framework remains effective, responsive and aligned with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

Najomo noted that the Civil Aviation Act 2022, Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR) 2023, and other regulatory instruments provide the statutory and technical framework for the NCAA’s responsibilities in aviation safety, security, economic regulation and consumer protection.

The chairman of the Committee,  Honourable Olufemi Richard Bamishile, said the visit was aimed at deepening the lawmakers’ understanding of the NCAA’s rule-making and regulatory processes while strengthening institutional cooperation.

Bamishile raised concerns over outstanding statutory remittances by airlines and called for legislative amendments that would facilitate the immediate deduction and remittance of applicable funds due to the NCAA.

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He argued that a more effective statutory collection mechanism would strengthen regulatory funding and improve the authority’s capacity to discharge its oversight responsibilities.

A member of the Committee, Honourable Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, sought clarification on the persistent incidence of flight delays and cancellations, and the measures being implemented by the regulator and airlines to minimise operational disruptions.

Responding at the instance of the DGCA, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu, attributed some previous disruptions to inadequate aircraft capacity, explaining that the deployment of a single aircraft across multiple routes could result in widespread passenger disruption whenever the aircraft became unavailable.

He said airlines are increasingly introducing additional capacity through dry-lease arrangements, while the NCAA is also developing a system that would facilitate the rebooking of passengers on alternative airlines when cancellations or prolonged disruptions occur.