By Ime Akpan
Lagos
Workers in the aviation industry under the umbrella of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government to appoint a substantive director for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) or they would embark on a strike.
In a petition dated June 18, 2014 and addressed to the secretary to the government of the federation, Mr. Pius Anyim Pius, the deputy national secretary of ATSSSAN, Capt. Tar Tanongo who signed the document expressed concern over the non-confirmation of a substantive director general of NCAA since the sack of the erstwhile chief of the agency, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu.
Tanongo observed that the appointment of the agency’s head had dragged for too long following the inability of the federal government to transmit to the senate for confirmation the name of Capt. Murktar Usman who was named as Akinkuotu’s successor.
Tanongo said that in as much as nature abhors a vacuum as Engineer Benedict Adeyileka had already been appointed in an acting capacity, the Civil Aviation Act (CAR) does not recognise the office of an interim director general.
“Several activities are being performed that might become contentious and actionable in future. The aviation industry has suffered and is still suffering from several decisions taken by the government that caused the agencies billions of naira to remedy…as was the case before the appointment of Akinkuotu in 2013.
“We are constrained but have to do what we have to do for the survival of the industry and NCAA in particular. In view of the above, we hereby give the federal government through your office, a 21 day-ultimatum to do all the due diligence and give us a substantive director general or we will have no other option but to ground all operations in the aviation industry in Nigeria,” said Tanongo.
