- Why Nigeria’s wet lease pact remains unprofitable-Sanusi
- 'Stingy' airlines amid exploitative fare inquisition
- IATA: Nigeria maintains clean record, owes no foreign airline
- NCAA to sanction airlines over delayed refunds in 14 days, chides carriers' passengers rights violations
- Dispatchers Want Authorities To Address Disparities In Licensing, Salaries, Work Conditions
Workers seek substantive MD for NAMA
Following the crisis that has engulfed the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) over alleged N5 billion fraud and subsequent arrest of top officials of the agency, a coalition of Aviation Union and Professional association have called for the appointment of a substantive Managing Director for NAMA.
The group in a statement signed by its spokesman, Johnson Agbede and made available to the media stated that if urgent steps are not taken, this could adversely erode safety as workers do not know whom to take directive from.
They lamented that the agency is in dire straits following the appointment of two officials in acting capacity in less than one week.
Labour unions including air traffic controllers have petitioned the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi over the choice of Uwem Ekerette Akangson as Acting MD, saying the appointment of the Director of Human Resources is a gross violation of the NAMA Act.
They were also piqued that being an in-law to the former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, a thorough probe of the agency may be hindered as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating virtually the entire management of the agency for some controversial procurement and other deals done between 2012 and 2015.
Section 8 of NAMA Act stipulates how Managing Director can be appointed.
According to the Act, “There shall be for the Agency a Managing Director who shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the minister and on such terms and conditions as may be specified in his letter of appointment or as may be determined, from time to time, by the Government of the Federation.”
“The Managing Director shall be the chief executive and accounting officer of the agency; responsible to the Board for the day-to-day administration of the Agency; appointed for a term of five years in the first instance and may be re-appointed for a further term of five years subject to satisfactory performance; a person who possesses relevant and adequate professional qualifications in a senior management cadre and shall have been so qualified for a period of not less than fifteen years.”
They were also piqued that Akangson joined the agency in 2012 after he left his position in one of the commercial Banks.
It would be recalled that on February 16, 2016, the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi directed Engr. Emmanuel Anasi to act as MD/CE in Acting capacity in absence of the substantive CEO.
Sequel to this petition, the Ministry on Friday directed Akangson, the current Director of Human Resources who is the most senior director to take over as the Acting Managing Director.
According to the group, “The huge financial scandal involving the management of NAMA is overwhelming for anybody to think he can come back to that office.”
They said the organisation therefore requires a substantive CEO who will immediately settle down to business to re organise and reposition the agency for the urgently needed service delivery.
The group recalled that last year and the previous year, they had complained about poor communication and other navigational facilities in the country’s airspace due to “corrupt practices in NAMA”, adding that the previous government gave a blind eye to it, noting that they had been vindicated.
They therefore appealed to the government to act immediately in appointing a substantive Managing Director for the agency to forestall imminent operational lapses that may occur and affect the safety of the Nigerian airspace and indeed the safety of the flying public.
