AM EDITORIAL: NCAA Acting DG’s Confirmation: Ethical Issues Around AON’s Endorsement
In November 2024, two executives of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) while speaking at different times, in an International Air Transport Conference, called for government confirmation of the appointment of Acting Director General, Civil Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, who was appointed in 2023 to function in acting capacity.
First, we wish to state that based on Capt. Najomo’s wealth of experience and numerous achievements in acting capacity within one year, processing confirmation of his appointment does not require any further delay.
Najomo has visibly brought transformation into the regulatory agency since his appointment, prioritizing safety of aircraft and passengers rights, actualizing ease of doing business for struggling local airlines to enhance their operational capacity, supervising and ensuring the recertification of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, minimizing airlines’ losses involved in the process of aircraft inspections, automation of processes and so on and so forth.
However, we are of the opinion that it is not in the place of leaders of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to publicly call for appointment confirmation of head of their industry regulatory agency, in the ‘praise singing’ manner that it was done, like a political campaign. We see this as an ethical minus for the airline operators.
Aviation is a unique sector with professional approach, global standards and processes for almost every activity, especially the appointment of head of an agency that is as sensitive as the industry’s regulatory body. Because of the global nature of this industry, the attention of the world is on critical issues such as this. The manner in which things are done, goes a long way in building how Nigeria’s aviation industry is perceived out there.
The regulatory oversight role of the NCAA over airline operators is not far from the role of a referee between various football teams in a competition and the role of an examiner over students writing professional exams. We consider it very unethical for a football team to advocate for a choice of referee that would handle its match against another team. It is wrong for students preparing to write an examination to attempt to dictate who invigilates the exam. In fact, there is no access to such right.
NCAA by obligation and responsibility, carries out numerous forms of inspections and examinations of airlines, their personnel, equipment and other aspects of their operations. Where there are violations of standards, there are regulatory provisions for sanctions by the NCAA. We opine therefore, that it is wrong for airline operators in Nigeria to “campaign” for confirmation of the head of an agency that would regulate their activities, even though everyone knows he is qualified for the position. We should be mindful of the things we do. The world is watching.AM
