By Gloria Ikibah
Stakeholders in the aviation sector have disagreed on a proposed bill seeking that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) be domicile under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), rather than the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development where it is currently.
The bill titled, a Bill for an Act to amend the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Act, No. 35, 2022 and for related matters, was vehemently opposed by the Ministry of Aviation at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Special Duties and Aviation on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Abubakar Kana in his submission on behalf of the agencies in the ministry asked the lawmakers to retain the Bureau under the aviation ministry, this is as he advocated for the legal and operational framework be strengthened to guarantee its functional independence.
“I recommend that the National Assembly and its relevant stakeholders retain the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau within the Federal Ministry of Aviation,” Dr. Kana said.
The Permanent Secretary for Political and Economic Affairs at the OSGF, Engr. Gagare Nadungu, in his submission supported the bill but argued that the Presidency, through the SGF, offers a centralised coordination structure better suited to host the Bureau.
Nadungu positioned that domiciling the NSIB under the Presidency would promote broader national oversight and institutional independence.
Echoing this position, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr. Onwusoro Maduka, emphasised the need for the Bureau to operate independently, especially in the conduct of accident investigations.
