A massive shake-up hit aviation agencies yesterday – three weeks after Princess Stella Oduah was removed as minister.
The sudden sack gale provoked mixed feelings at the headquarters of the agencies in Lagos.
A statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, said President Goodluck Jonathan approved the reorganisation.
Only Dr. Tony Anuforo retained his position as Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
The statement by Sam Nwaobasi, Special Assistant (Media) to the SGF, said: “Mr. Saleh Dumona (Director Projects, FAAN) is to replace Mr. George Uriesi as Managing-Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
“Mr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam (General Manager, Procurements (NAMA) is to replace Mr. Nnamdi Udoh as Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
“Capt. Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick (Government Safety Inspector & ICAO Focal Point for Nigeria on line Aircraft Safety Information Systems, OASIS) is to replace Capt. (Mrs.) Chinyere Kalu as Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).
“Capt. Muhktar Usman (Commissioner, Accident Investigation & Prevention Bureau, AIPB) is to replace Capt. Fola C. Akinkuotu as Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), subject to confirmation by the Senate.
“Mr. Benedict Adeyileka is to act as DG, NCAA, pending his confirmation by the Senate.
Dr. Felix A. Abali (Director Licencing, NCAA) is to replace Capt. Muhktar Usman as Commissioner, Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB).”
The sack of the NCAA director general is coming on the heels of plans by the government to undergo the re-certification of Nigeria’s safety rating for Category One status.
The United States (U.S.) team to carry out the audit will arrive in Nigeria this month.
Nigeria attained Category One on September 18, 2010.
Part of the requirements of the re-assessment is: certification of major international airports, the operations of aviation agencies, including airspace authority, aviation training college and the meteorological agency.
The recertification is part of the processes to revalidate the highest civil aviation rating, which ensures that Nigeria is in line with updated standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Aviation stakeholders expressed mixed reactions over the sack of heads of the agencies. They described removal of the NCAA DG as “controversial”.
Mr. Sheri Kyari, executive director of the Centre for Aviation Safety and Research, said the industry would require time to recover from the restructuring.
Captain Dele Ore, president of Aviation RoundTable, said he could not comment because no reason was given for the removal of the director general of the NCAA.
Other players in the sector, who declined to give their names, said frequent changes of leadership could have some negative impact on the industry.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Act (2006) specifies conditions under which the NCAA DG could be removed from office.
It states: “There shall be for the Authority a Director-General who shall be appointed by the President, on such terms and conditions as stipulated in the Act, subject to the confirmation by the Senate.
“The Director–General shall be primarily responsible for the fostering of the safety of Civil Aviation in Nigeria and shall be the chief executive and accounting officer of the Authority responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Authority.
“He shall be appointed for a term of five years in the first instance and may be reappointed for a further term of five years and no more.
“A person who possesses relevant and adequate professional qualification and shall have been so qualified for a period of not less than 15 years.
“The Director-General may be suspended or removed from office by the president if he has demonstrated inability to effectively perform the duties of his office.
“If has been absent from 5 (five) consecutive meetings of the Board without the consent of the Chairman, unless he shows good reasons for such absence.”
“If he is guilty of serious misconduct in relation to his duties as Director-General.
The condition also states that in the case of a person possessed of professional qualifications, he could be removed if he is disqualified or suspended from practising his profession in any part of the world by an order of a competent authority.
“Or he is guilty of a conflict of interest as stipulated in Section 10 of this Act.
“The Director-General shall not be removed from office except in accordance with the provisions of this Act.” (0)
Shake up in Aviation as Jonathan sacks FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, NCAT directors
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