The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has become the epicenter of high wired politicking as contenders for the post of substantive director general of the regulatory body resort to deft tactics besides sponsoring campaign groups to outdo the other in a bid to get the coveted job. IME AKPAN reports
These are interesting times at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as the campaign to become the substantive director general of the agency gathers momentum.
At the centre of the contest for the coveted position are the acting director general of the agency, Engineer Benedict Adeyileka and the director-general designate, Capt. MuhktarUsman who was re-deployed from the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) where he served as its commissioner and chief executive until March 4, 2014. But he has to be cleared and confirmed by the senate before he could report at his duty post.
And for more than four months since Adeyileka has been serving as acting director general while there are no signs that Usman, who has no office but still collects salary as AIB commissioner would get the job any time soon, both men have mopped up the little resources at their disposal to fund amorphous propaganda groups to fight their cause.
Aviation Network International (ANI) which is rooting for the retention of and possible transmutation of Adeyileka into a substantive director general argued at its hasty inauguration in Lagos recently that every president in the civilized world has the prerogative of when to nominate and submit the name of any executive officer nominee to the legislature for confirmation.
ANI president, Mr. Thompson Obafemi who spoke elaborately at the event also contended that once the name of such a nominee is in the legislature’s domain, “they too reserve the right to delay, deny or approve confirmation of relevant executive officers.”
“There’s no vacuum caused by having an acting director general in place in place in NCAA. In fact, the acting director general, Engineer Benedict Adeyileka is a consummate and accomplished professional, with vast multi-jurisdictional international experience of the industry, well respected by his peers and operators, and has brought stability in regulating the sector.
“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Act 2006, stipulates that a director general be appointed, and does not distinguish whether in acting or substantive capacity. The significant purpose of confirming the director general is for qualification screening and ensuring tenure in the position.
“So long as the acting director general is qualified and experienced to perform the functions, the fact of his non-confirmation adds nothing significant to the job of ensuring safety of air transport or confer any added legality or legitimacy to the authority’s processes,” he said.
While commending the management team of NCAA led by Adeyileka “for steering the agency so far”, Obafemi urged the federal government to ensure scheduled completion of all the ongoing airport projects in line with the aviation road map.
Besides, he called on the government to make public its decision regarding the merger of agencies.
On the other hand, the Practitioners of Human Resource in Aviation (PHRA) which supports Usman’s candidature noted that the director general-designate and the new governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele were both nominated by the president almost the same time and wondered why that of NCAA should be an issue.
The coordinator of PHRA, Mr. Solomon EkiOhiomah said in a signed statement issued in Lagos said “workers in the aviation sector are worried over the non- confirmation of the director general-designate for the NCAA.”
“Aviation stakeholders are not comfortable with the delay. Even when that of the CBN governor was screened and confirmed within 90 days, the director general-designate’s approval is still pending. This is not in the interest of the country,” he added.
Ohiomah alleged that some people were bent on scuttling the Usman’s ambition by making spurious allegations to tarnish his reputation and image and called on the senate to “hasten the appointment of the substantive director general as both CBN and NCAA are regulatory bodies in their respective industries.”
“The rumours by some spin doctors alluding to a non-existing petition by some former employees of Nigeria Airways workers against the nomination of Capt. UsmanMuhktar are baseless. Even if such petitions exist, the authors should forward those petitions to the senate instead of resorting to blackmail,” said Ohiomah.
He said from the findings conducted by PHRA, “the presidential nominee has cognate experience to head NCAA professionally as a trained pilot with good safety records with then Nigeria Airways in addition to working with the aviation ministry before heading the Accident Investigation /Prevention Bureau AIPB as a commissioner.”
Meanwhile, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) expressed concern over the non-confirmation of a substantive head for the agency since the sack of the erstwhile NCAA chief, Capt. FolaAkinkuotu last March.
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 Tarnongo who signed the document observed that the appointment of the agency’s head had dragged for too long following the inability of the federal government to transmit Usman’s name to the senate for confirmation.
Tarnongo said that in as much as nature abhors a vacuum as 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 Tarnongo.
However, Blueprint investigation revealed that the two contenders have their supporters among the staff of the agency who work hand in hand with PHRA and ANI respectively. It was further revealed that the supporter base of the duo is made up of the senior staff, from the general manager cadre.
One of the staff rooting Usman told Blueprint on condition of anonymity said he was not opposed to Adeyileka acting but that he would not be comfortable “if the director general-designate is denied that slot.”
“Usman was re-deployed from AIB to take over from Capt. Akinkuotu. Normally, his appointment has to be confirmed by the senate. While his confirmation is being awaited, I agree that there should be no vacuum; that is why someone is acting. But surprisingly, some people have begun to drum up support for the transmutation of the acting director general into a substantive one. This is unacceptable; it is unfair and anybody or group doing this does not wish the industry well.
Meanwhile, Usman has no office; he has not been sacked and there is nothing to suggest that he is not capable to do the job. As long as his appointment has not been approved and there was a presidential pronouncement directing him to take over from Akinkuotu, we are still hopeful that he will be screened and confirmed to assume duty at NCAA. Government has the final say in the matter and it is only government’s verdict that we will accept. If the government withdraws the offer, they have to give him a commensurate post,” he said.