NCAA Promises Passengers To Get Refund As Aviation Staff Embark On Strike

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says air passengers will soon start to get 100% instant refund anytime an airline cancels a flight.

NCAA Director General, Capt Musa Nuhu, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday, said this will become effective once a new regulation in the pipeline is signed into law.

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The number one man of Nigeria’s apex regulatory body for aviation said over a billion naira in aviation earning is being lost to flight cancellations and delays but he did not give the time frame to quantify the amount is said was being lost.

Nuhu also said concerted efforts have been made to resolve the ongoing strike by aviation workers at airports all over the country.

Scores of flights have been affected in the country and thousands of local and international passengers stranded as protesting aviation unions grounded airports in Nigeria on Monday over the non-release of the reviewed Condition of Service, planned demolition of Dominion and EAN hangars, amongst sundry issues.

The industrial action, which entered day 2 on Tuesday, has continued to leave many passengers at the receiving end of the two disagreeing elephants – the Federal Government and the striking unions.

Asked if passengers can get refunds for tickets purchased earlier before the strike to make plans for alternative mode of movement, the NCAA boss, on Tuesday, said, “It should be immediately. We are currently reviewing our regulations to review what’s done in the past that gives some days for refund if my flight is cancelled.

“What we have in the new regulation that will be signed into law very soon when it’s all cleaned up is that if you cancel my flight, you should put me on another flight or give me the option of getting refund immediately so that I can make other plans.

“Without the passengers, we don’t exist. The passengers are those who pay our salaries. Majority of the entire generated revenue of the NCAA, 80% or more, is from the 5% paid by the passengers. So, they pay our salaries,” Nuhu stated.