Engineers push NCAA to overhaul licensing system and lock out quacks
The Society of Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers of Nigeria has called on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to carry out a thorough review of the licensing framework for aircraft maintenance engineers, warning that any further dilution of professional entry standards will open the door to unqualified individuals and put aviation safety at risk.
The appeal was delivered on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by SLAMEN’s National Executive Council, led by President Muhammad Haladu, to the NCAA’s Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, at the authority’s headquarters in Abuja.
Haladu told the NCAA leadership that the integrity of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer licence is being steadily eroded and must be safeguarded from quackery through tighter qualification thresholds.
He insisted that only candidates holding Higher National Diplomas or Bachelor of Engineering degrees in aircraft maintenance, aeronautics or aerospace engineering should be permitted to enrol in the ICAO licence preparatory course or sit for the NCAA licensing examinations.
“Our concern is to preserve the integrity and credibility of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer licence. We are calling for a comprehensive review of the current licensing policies to ensure that only suitably qualified candidates are admitted into the ICAO Licence Preparatory Course and the NCAA licensing examinations,” Haladu said. “We recommend that eligibility be restricted to holders of Higher National Diplomas or Bachelor of Engineering degrees in Aircraft Maintenance, Aeronautics or Aerospace Engineering. Maintaining these standards is critical to aviation safety and to producing competent Nigerian aircraft maintenance engineers who can compete anywhere in the world.”
The society also pressed the NCAA to lead efforts in attracting investment into world-class maintenance, repair and overhaul centres within Nigeria. Haladu argued that the country’s heavy reliance on foreign maintenance facilities drains billions of naira annually in foreign exchange, stifles employment and hampers the transfer of technical know-how.
“Every year, billions of naira leave the country because aircraft are maintained abroad. Developing local MRO facilities will create employment, conserve foreign exchange, promote technology transfer and strengthen indigenous capacity,” he said.
On the subject of training, SLAMEN called for sharper regulatory oversight of aviation training organisations through more frequent audits, uniform training curricula and tighter supervision of instructors to align with global standards.
The group also recommended the immediate suspension or cancellation of the basic aircraft technician programme, arguing that its entry criteria do not meet the demands of aircraft maintenance engineering.
Turning to local content, the engineers demanded stricter validation of foreign-issued aircraft maintenance licences and more rigorous enforcement of expatriate quota regulations. They insisted that foreign engineers should only be engaged where genuine skills shortages exist, and only on the condition that structured knowledge-transfer schemes are put in place to build up Nigerian professionals.
Fatigue among maintenance personnel was another key concern. SLAMEN urged the NCAA to revise duty period limits for maintenance staff in line with internationally accepted human factors principles, warning that prolonged shifts and frequent night duties raise the risk of safety-related errors.
“Long working hours and excessive night shifts expose engineers to fatigue-related risks that can affect safety. We are ready to work with the NCAA to identify these challenges and develop practical solutions that will enhance operational safety,” Haladu said.
To deepen collaboration with the regulator, the society proposed the creation of a formal engagement structure that would enable regular dialogue, information exchange and joint policy formulation between SLAMEN and the NCAA.
Haladu stressed that every recommendation was driven solely by the imperative to improve aviation safety, defend professional standards, grow indigenous capability and establish Nigeria as a leading aviation hub on the continent.
In his response, Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo assured the delegation that the authority would give the proposals careful study and move quickly on matters concerning audits of Approved Maintenance Organisations and Aviation Training Organisations, licensing reforms, and the protection of local content for Nigerian aircraft maintenance engineers.
“We appreciate the contributions and recommendations of SLAMEN. The authority will give them the attention they deserve and will continue to work with stakeholders to strengthen the aviation industry, particularly in the areas of licensing, training oversight, maintenance organisations and the development of indigenous technical capacity,” Najomo said.