The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has unveiled its newly approved Staff Conditions of Service, describing it as a major step to boost staff welfare, professionalism and institutional efficiency.
NSIB Director-General Alex Badeh, speaking Friday during the unveiling in Abuja, said the document provides a comprehensive framework outlining staff rights, responsibilities and expectations.
“It is with immense pride and a profound sense of responsibility that I stand before you today, our NSIB family, to officially unveil and present our newly approved Staff Conditions of Service,” Badeh said.
He noted that the development aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the bureau’s recent restructuring to report directly to the Presidency has strengthened its operational independence.
“Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and his Renewed Hope Agenda, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been repositioned to report directly to the Presidency,” Badeh stated. “This strategic restructuring has granted us enhanced independence, authority and an invaluable platform to function effectively as the nation’s sole multimodal accident investigation agency.”
According to Badeh, the CoS details clear pathways for appointments, promotions, training, and development. It also ensures fair disciplinary processes and outlines welfare packages covering leave entitlements, medical services, allowances, loans and rewards for meritorious service.
“It guarantees the protection of your rights while demanding the highest standards of conduct, confidentiality and commitment that our sensitive safety work demands,” he told staff.
He urged all employees, from new recruits to senior officers and union executives, to study the document and let it guide their conduct. “This document is our guarantee that hard work, integrity and dedication will be acknowledged and rewarded,” he said.
Badeh disclosed that work on the CoS began in December 2024 and took about 17 to 18 months to secure approval from the Head of Service. It was signed and approved on March 13 before printing.
“This is a landmark achievement for us here at the NSIB because this is a real increase in allowances and other benefits for bureau employees to match and actually beat inflation right now,” he added.
The DG said the bureau’s new reporting structure and the CoS should motivate staff to “perform optimally moving forward as an accident investigation bureau.”
On operational matters, Badeh said the bureau is engaging the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on mitigating bird strike incidents. “They’ve been doing a lot to mitigate that, so again I would still talk to them and see what more could be done to reduce these occurrences,” he said. “But like I said, it’s nature…the sky belongs to the birds really, we just created airplanes to join them.”
President Tinubu recently approved NSIB’s relocation from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to the Presidency, a move backed by stakeholders who argued that direct presidential oversight would ensure greater operational independence. The restructuring aligns with global best practices for accident investigation agencies and is expected to improve transparency and safety oversight across air, rail and maritime transport.
