Aircraft maintenance engineers demand licensing overhaul to curb quackery

The Society of Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers of Nigeria (SLAMEN) has asked the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to urgently tighten its licensing regime, warning that weakened standards risk letting quacks into the profession and undermining aviation safety.

The call came on Tuesday when SLAMEN President Muhammad Haladu led the society’s National Executive Council on a courtesy visit to NCAA Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo in Abuja.

Haladu said the integrity of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer licence must be protected by restricting entry to candidates who hold Higher National Diplomas or Bachelor of Engineering degrees in aircraft maintenance, aeronautics or aerospace engineering.

“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,” he 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.”

Beyond licensing, the society pressed a series of related reforms. It urged the NCAA to champion policies that would attract investment in world-class maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, arguing that Nigeria’s heavy reliance on overseas maintenance drains billions of naira each year, kills jobs and blocks technology transfer.

“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,” Haladu said.

On training oversight, SLAMEN demanded more frequent audits of aviation training organisations, standardised curricula and closer monitoring of instructors. It went further by calling for the immediate suspension or cancellation of the basic aircraft technician course, which it says admits candidates whose qualifications fall short of what aircraft maintenance engineering requires.

The engineers also took aim at weak enforcement of local content rules. They want stricter validation of foreign aircraft maintenance licences and tighter enforcement of expatriate quota regulations, insisting that foreign engineers should only be hired where genuine skill gaps exist—and only under structured knowledge-transfer programmes that build Nigerian expertise.

Fatigue management featured prominently in the discussions. SLAMEN asked the NCAA to review maintenance duty periods in line with international human factors principles, warning that excessively long shifts and repeated night duties expose engineers to fatigue-related safety risks. “We are ready to work with the NCAA to identify these challenges and develop practical solutions that will enhance operational safety,” Haladu said.

To cement cooperation, the society proposed a formal liaison framework for regular consultations, information sharing and joint policy development with the regulator. Haladu stressed that all the recommendations were driven solely by the need to elevate aviation safety, protect professional standards and position Nigeria as a leading aviation hub in Africa.

Responding, Capt. Najomo assured the delegation that the NCAA would study the proposals carefully and act swiftly on matters concerning Approved Maintenance Organisation and Aviation Training Organisation audits, personnel licensing reforms, and measures to safeguard 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.