Why NCAA is yet to get new DG
More facts have emerged as to why President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to forward the name of Capt. Muktar Usman as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to the Senate for confirmation.
Usman was announced as a replacement for Capt. Fola Akinkuotu in March 2014, following the sweeping off of three other chief executive directors in the agencies by the Presidency.
A source, who does not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent that the torrents of petitions against Usman since the announcement was made was one of the major reasons Jonathan was dillydallying in forwarding his name for confirmation.
Also, the source told our correspondent that most of the petitioners were Usman’s colleagues in the defunct Nigeria Airways, where he spent 18 years as a supernumerary pilot.
Besides, the petitioners queried his competence as a Director-General of NCAA, saying that for him to have spent 18 years as a supernumerary without being in command of an aircraft called to question his capacity to manage a highly rated agency like the NCAA.
The source further informed our correspondent that the Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, might have used his closeness to the Presidency to finally scuttle the approval of Usman as he expressed displeasure with the removal of the former DG NCAA, Akinkuotu, by the presidency.
Akinkuotu is an indigene of Ondo State and only spent five months as the DG of the regulatory agency out of the expected five years approved tenure.
Jonathan was said to have responded that he approved the sack of Akinkuotu, three other CEOs and the redeployment of the Commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, Usman to NCAA following the recommendations from the Aviation ministry.
There are indications that the president may eventually be pressurised to drop him as an appointee.
The source said, “There are several petitions against Usman even from his own colleagues in the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways who feel that he doesn’t have the capacity to oversee such a demanding agency in the Nigerian aviation industry.
Even loyalists of Akinkuotu are asking questions about his removal.
“From all indications, he might not eventually be named as the substantive DG of NCAA, but let’s wait and see.” Usman became a CapUstain in Chanchangi Airlines after the liquidation of the carrier.
When contacted on phone to comment on the delay in confirming his appointment, Usman said that there was a process for appointing the Director- General of NCAA, and that the Civil Aviation Act was very clear on this.
He insisted that the process was ongoing, maintaining that government was doing what it was supposed to do on the matter.
He, however, feigned ignorance on the petition written against him by his former colleagues in the defunct Nigeria Airways. He replied, “I am not aware of any petition.”
Meanwhile, the Aviation Network International, ANI, has castigated the leading union in the Nigerian aviation industry, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, over its threat to disrupt activities in the sector if a substantive Director-General was not confirmed for NCAA, within 21 days.
ANI President, Mr. Thompson Obafemi speaking in Lagos over the weekend said such threat by ATSSSAN was not in the interest of the aviation industry in particular and the nation in general. Rather than threaten the government, ANI challenged the union to contribute meaningfully to the development of the industry.
Obafemi insisted that the role of the unions in a civil society was not to usurp the responsibility of any elected leaders, by unfairly twisting government’s arms to dictate implementation of policies or functions, stressing that every President in a civilised world, has the prerogative of when to nominate and submit the name of any nominee to the legislatures for confirmation.
He declared that even the legislature has the right to delay, deny or approve confirmation of relevant executive officers, warning that the unions had no business in such processes.
The president insisted that no vacuum had been created by having an acting Director- General in the agency, maintaining that the current acting Director-General, was a consummate and accomplished professional, with vast multi-jurisdictional international experience of the industry.
Obafemi explained that the assertion that several legal and vital documents and activities were being performed that might become issues of contention and litigations in future, was a disingenuous and untrue statement, stressing that if the union was the protector of the Act, how come they stood silent when Akinkuotu’s tenure was cut short for no just cause.
He further noted the need to address important issues like merger in the industry.
Source: National Mirror
