A Nigerian cabin crew graduate has lodged a complaint with the Irish Civil Aviation Authority (IAA), claiming that the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, did not honour his promise for automatic employment for licensed cabin crew.
In an email accompanying his complaint, the graduate alleged that multiple licensed cabin crew members were promised jobs in Nigeria’s aviation sector, but, so far, none have been employed. The email published simultaneously with his complaint specifically chastised the leadership of the NCAA and indicated that the experience was frustrating for young people.
Michael Achimugu, media spokesperson for the NCAA confirmed he received the email (of complaint) but noted the NCAA is not responsible for the hiring of licensed cabin crew. Achimugu asserted that the NCAA’s responsibility is to provide licensing and oversight of the civil aviation industry while meeting standards, so hiring personnel for airlines is a business decision of the airline operators. Achimugu questioned the complaint’s intent to seek the intervention of the Irish regulator, asking what jurisdiction the Irish authority has over employment in Nigeria.
The complaint has raised issues of the best current capacity challenges of Nigeria’s aviation sector. Experts indicate that many young people qualify for their cabin crew licenses, but due to the state of the aviation sector, there is no capacity to accommodate all of those qualified persons into the local Nigerian market. Industry analysts assert that it is unrealistic to expect automatic employment for every holder of an airline that is licensed without investment and expansion by local airlines.
Beyond the industry’s capacity challenges, the complaint highlights the frustrations of many graduates of aviation courses who feel/believe the promises made to them have not been honoured. Some warn that if opportunities are not provided, more trained aviation professionals will seek employment abroad, further reducing the already depleted local workforce.
The NCAA has reiterated that its mandate does not include job creation, insisting that airline operators must address employment needs. Now, the focus will shift to how the Irish authority responds to the complaint, and whether the concerns raised will prompt a broader discussion about job opportunities in the aviation industry.
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