NSIB unveils new conditions of service, replaces APER with performance-based system

By Nnasom David

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has unveiled a new Conditions of Service (CoS), replacing long-standing bureaucratic structures with a performance-driven and employee-focused framework aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s transport safety system.

The new charter, sanctioned by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, was unveiled on Thursday by the Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Sabundu Badeh Jnr., who described it as a major shift toward institutional autonomy and global best practices.

Central to the reforms is the replacement of the Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) with a Performance Management System (PMS), designed to ensure that career progression is based on measurable productivity rather than years of service. The new system introduces monthly performance engagements, quarterly assessments, and written examinations, alongside Performance Improvement Plans to support staff development.

Speaking at the unveiling, Badeh said the reforms were necessary to align the Bureau’s operations with the technical and emotional demands of accident investigation.

“Our mandate is technical, rigorous, and often emotionally taxing. We cannot expect world-class investigative outcomes from a workforce bound by archaic administrative frameworks,” he said.
The new framework also introduces mental health support measures, including trauma risk management and post-traumatic care, as well as “mental day-offs” for investigators exposed to distressing accident scenes.

In addition, the Bureau rolled out financial and welfare incentives, including vehicle loans equivalent to a full year’s salary repayable over eight years at five per cent interest, and housing loans with a ten-year repayment plan.

The policy also provides 112 working days of fully paid maternity leave, paternity leave provisions, and extended medical coverage for retirees and their families for up to three years after service.
The reforms come amid the agency’s transition to reporting directly to the Presidency, a move that enhances its operational independence and supports a multimodal approach to accident investigations across aviation, rail, maritime, and road transport.
Industry observers say the development is timely, especially following transport safety challenges recorded in 2025, noting that the new framework could improve the Bureau’s ability to deliver timely, transparent, and data-driven safety recommendations.

The NSIB said the Conditions of Service would be reviewed every five years to ensure adaptability to evolving industry demands, adding that the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s broader commitment to institutional reforms under its Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Bureau also noted that the framework was developed in collaboration with key aviation unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), signalling alignment between management and labour in advancing transport safety.

The agency expressed confidence that the reforms would position Nigeria’s accident investigation system in line with leading global institutions while improving staff welfare and operational efficiency.

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