Leadership and Governance in Aviation Organisations: A comparative study of management practices in U.S. and Nigerian aviation agencies.

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@article{1718272,
      author = {Folorunso Matthew Kayode},
      title = {Leadership and Governance in Aviation Organisations: A comparative study of management practices in U.S. and Nigerian aviation agencies.},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2025},
      volume = {8},
      number = {8},
      pages = {1210-1216},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1718272.pdf},
      abstract = {Leadership and governance strategies in aviation organizations directly impact safety performance, regulatory efficacy, and public trust. This paper undertakes a comparative qualitative analysis of management practices within aviation agencies in the United States, particularly the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and in Nigeria, specifically the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Utilizing policy documents, statutes, and empirical literature regarding safety culture, leadership styles, and corporate governance, the study analyzes the influence of leadership commitment, institutional design, and governance frameworks on safety oversight, organizational culture, and reform trajectories in both nations. The review shows that U.S. aviation governance is characterized by relatively stable institutional autonomy, strong data-driven safety management, and embedded safety management systems (SMS). Nigerian agencies work in a more politically fluid environment, with major legal changes, evolving corporate governance standards, and ongoing implementation challenges. The paper contends that despite Nigeria's significant advancements in harmonizing its regulatory framework with ICAO standards, deficiencies persist in converting formal changes into uniform leadership conduct, safety culture, and performance management. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing leadership development, depoliticizing oversight, institutionalizing safety culture metrics, and advancing corporate governance practices within Nigerian aviation agencies.},
      keywords = {Aviation Governance, Leadership, Safety Culture, Nigeria Civil Aviation, FAA, SMS, Corporate Governance, Regulatory Oversight},
      month = {February},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV8I8-1718272}
  }