OK so the Federal Government has commenced a major
shake-up in the aviation sector, culminating in the restructuring of
some key parastatals, redeployment of personnel and outright retirement
of some directors.
This long-expected shake-up, was to have commenced a fortnight ago but it was delayed
due to the controversy thrown up by aviation unions' protests against
Arik Air.
The shake-up affects top management staff in the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),
Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian College of
Aviation Technology (NCAT), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), and
Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
In FAAN, the agencies directorates were increased from seven to nine,
with seven of the directors to head the directorates being brought in
as new recruits.
One of the managers, who was lucky to survive the shake-up, Hajiya
Salamatu Eluwa, was promoted from her former position as General
Manager, Training, to Director of Administration.
The Public Affairs Department of FAAN has also been split into two
with the former General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Akin Olukunle, now
heading the Protocol and Passages Unit, while one Yakubu Datti will head
the newly created Communications Unit.
Also affected in the shake-up is the former Director of Engineering
of FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dunoma, who is being redeployed to head the newly
created Directorate of Projects.
At the NCAA, the Director of Airworthiness Standards, Patrick Ekunwe,
as well as his counterpart in Aerodrome Standards, Haruna - both on
contract - have been asked to go. Haruna will be replaced by Joyce
Nkemakolam, while Mrs. Fatima Garbati is the new Director of Air
Transport Regulation.
Some directors from NAMA, whose names could not be confirmed, were
said to have also been redeployed to AIB, while others have been
redeployed to NCAT.
President Goodluck Jonathan had approved the restructuring last month
at a meeting with the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Odua, and the heads of the five aviation parastatals, comprising NCAA
Director General, Harold Demuren; NAMA Managing Director, Nnamdi Udoh;
Managing Director of FAAN, George Uriesi; NCAT Rector, Capt. Chinyere
Kalu; and Director General of NIMET, Anthony Anuforo, to the meeting
with the president.
The meeting decided to replace all substantive general managers in
all the agencies who have occupied such positions for eight years,
officials with tainted records, and those said to have been 'smuggled'
into the system by former ministers and power brokers.
Also top officials of the agencies who might have by omission
or commission caused their organisations avoidable losses through
contracts or 'loose' concessions were marked for removal.
The Federal Government, in October last year, carried out a major
shake-up in the aviation industry, with the removal of the chief
executive officers of the three major aviation agencies in the country.
Those affected by the shake-up were Ibrahim Auyo (NAMA), Richard
Aisuebeogun (FAAN) and Adebayo Araba, Rector/Chief Executive of NCAT.
Hmmmmm seems like this current minister means business.
