A month after the former Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, was sacked; President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday cleared the runway of aviation industry in the country as he approved the sacking of aviation chiefs in the country.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Sam Nwaobasi, said the President has approved the re-organization in the Ministry of Aviation.
Those affected by the re-organization are the newly appointed Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Capt. Fola Akinkuotu; Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Mr George Uriesi; Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Engr. Nnamdi Udoh; Rector Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Capt Chinyere Kalu and Commissioner, Accident Investigation & Prevention Bureau, (AIPB) Capt. Muhktar Usman. However, Director General of Nigerian Meteorological Services (NIMET), Dr. Anthony Anoforom has been asked to retain his portfolio. The name of former Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau Capt, Muhktar Usman has been submitted to the Senate for screening as the new Director General of NCAA.
Meanwhile, former Director of Projects at FAAN, Engr Saleh Dumona has been appointed as the new Managing Director of FAAN, while the Director of Airworthiness at NCAA, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka has been asked to resume as the acting Director General of NCAA.
Government Safety Inspector & International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Focal Point for Nigeria on line Aircraft Safety Information Systems, (OASIS), Capt. Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick, has replaced Capt. (Mrs.) Chinyere Kalu as Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation.
It was jubilations galore at the Lagos Airport yesterday as the news of the sack of the aviation chiefs filtered into the industry.
Some members of staff who spoke with Daily Newswatch under the condition of anonymity thanked the President for the cleansing exercise going on in the industry. They, however, advised that the exercise should not be stopped only at the chief executive officers’ level.
They suggested that it should trickle down to the director, general managers and other lowest cadre in the industry. They specifically mentioned that new appointment of members of staff which they alleged was imposed on them in all the parastatals of the industry should also be reviewed while those who merit their appointments should be retained and those who were brought in through the back doors should be shown the way out of the industry.
They alleged that the erstwhile minister had loaded the entire industry with moles whom they claimed are more loyal to her than the industry.
Similarly, some stakeholders in the aviation sector have commended the Federal Government for its bold step in the right direction. According to Mr. Sheri Kyari, Events Secretary Aviation Round Table, it is imperative that the chief executives of some of the aviation parastatals be asked to leave since the former minister has been relieved of her position.
He stated that most of the illegalities alleged to have been perpetrated by the former minister like the purchase of bullet proof car by both the MD of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and Director General Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority were done in connivance with the former minister.
He, however, pointed out that the Captain Fola Akinkuotu was only appointed in August last year and was not part of the transactions that led to the purchase of the controversial bullet proof cars.
President Foreign Airline Operators and Representatives in Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Nwokoma, stated that the issue is not sacking the heads of aviation parastatals but that of ensuring that the aviation minister does not have overbearing influence on the heads of parastatals.
He said that NCAA should be given autonomy to enable it perform its regulatory functions instead of taking orders from a minister of aviation who is not a professional.