Stakeholders in the aviation sector have been reacting to the sack of the agencies of the aviation ministry by President Goodluck Jonathan. It would be recalled that in one sweep yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan, sacked the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, George Uriesi; the managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, NnamdiUdoh; the director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency, NCAA, FolaAkinkuotu; and the rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, MrsChinyereKalu.
In the statement issued by the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), the President said the sacks were necessary to pace way for “sanitsing the sector.”
In his reaction, the assistant general secretary of the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), Comrade OlayinkaAbioye, said the federal government should have allowed the new minister of aviation to choose who to work with.
According to him, the norm is for new aviation ministers to remove agency head and appoint his or her own person to work with. “What if he is not confirmed as aviation minister? Does it mean the one who is appointed would remove all the aviation chiefs and appoint a new set of individuals?” he asked
“Let’s accept what has happened and see what would happen in the days ahead. The industry is actually passing through a difficult time, so the only thing to do is to watch and see, and hope for the better, because I believe that is the essence of the changes.”
Former national president, Nigerian Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Engr. AyubaKyari, said the removal of the aviation agencies came as a surprise, especially the removal of Akinkuoto because the position of DG comes with a five-year tenure attached to it.
“Maybe government wants to remove all strings attached to the tenure of Oduah. It came to me as a surprise, especially the removal of the DG of NCAA. He has not spent up to one year in office and the position comes with tenure to it. One doesn’t know the thinking of government. Apart from that, I will say the decision to remove them is alright in order to inject fresh blood and move the industry forward.
“I would like Nigeria to however take the changes in baton away from any sentiments towards the crises trailing former minister of aviation and her subsequent removal from office. I believe that government has its serious reasons for the changes.”
