The Senate has mandated its Committee on Aviation to summon the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over ongoing issues with flight delays and cancellations in the country.
The committee has also been instructed to invite the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Chris Najomo, airline operators, and other relevant stakeholders to address the rising concerns.
The investigation, following a motion by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo, APC), will focus on identifying the underlying causes of frequent flight disruptions and proposing effective solutions to improve the reliability of air travel. The motion, which was presented during Wednesday’s plenary, emphasized the negative impact these disruptions have on Nigeria’s socio-economic development and public trust in the aviation sector, according to Channels TV.
In a separate development, the Senate leadership has instructed its Committee on Finance to suspend further action on the proposed tax bill until after a high-level meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, announced the decision during plenary, revealing that a special committee has been set up to address contentious issues within the bill. The meeting with the AGF is scheduled for Thursday, December 5.
The decision comes after extensive deliberations among lawmakers over disagreements surrounding key provisions of the proposed tax legislation.
To further resolve these issues, the Senate leadership has announced plans to hold a special meeting at the National Assembly, chaired by the Minority Leader, to harmonize positions and ensure the bill aligns with national interests while addressing stakeholder concerns.
Members of the special committee include:
Abba Moro chairman
Tahir Monguno
Aliero Adamu
Kalu Orji
Dickson Seriake
Zam Titus
Yahaya Abdullahi
Adeola Solomon
Sani Musa
Abiru Mukhail, as well as the entire leadership of the Senate.