The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has begun a five-day review of personnel licensing examinations to ensure assessment standards keep pace with changes in aviation technology, regulations and operational requirements.
The workshop, organised by the NCAA Personnel Licensing (PEL) Examination Committee, opened in Lagos on Monday, October 12, 2026. It brings together aviation safety inspectors, licence examiners, industry experts and representatives of Approved Training Organisations to review existing examination questions and develop new assessment materials.
Opening the workshop, the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, represented by the Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards, Capt. Donald Spiff, identified three priorities: reviewing current examination questions, developing new questions that reflect emerging technologies and operational demands, and ensuring compliance with national regulations and international standards.
The review will take into account Annex 1 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which sets international standards and recommended practices for personnel licensing. It will also support the NCAA’s efforts to modernise examinations through computer-based testing, in line with the workshop’s theme, “Transforming Personnel Licensing Through Computer-Based Testing.”
The committee is responsible for developing, conducting and periodically updating examinations for the issuance of licences, certificates and ratings under Part 2 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023.
These examinations help determine whether aviation professionals have the knowledge and competence required to perform safety-critical duties. Pilots, Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and Air Traffic Controllers depend on effective training and assessment to meet the standards required for their respective roles.
Najomo stressed that committee members must demonstrate technical expertise, integrity and a sound understanding of aviation regulations. He said examination questions must be accurate, objective and fair, while remaining consistent with approved syllabi and the requirements of different licence categories.
The NCAA said the expansion of Nigeria’s aviation industry, including the growth of operators, airports and training organisations, has increased the need for competent personnel and dependable assessment systems.
Participants are expected to update questions across various licence categories and develop new materials covering modern-generation aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aircraft. The review is intended to ensure examinations reflect changing technologies and the skills required across the industry.
Najomo urged the committee to use the workshop to strengthen assessment standards and support a safer and more efficient aviation sector. The exercise is expected to provide a basis for more relevant and reliable licensing examinations as aviation operations become increasingly technology-driven.
