More aviation officials to lose jobs

Following the sacking of the heads of some aviation agencies by President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday, there are indications that more people in the sector will lose their jobs.

Our correspondent, who visited the Lagos offices of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday, observed that workers of the agencies were tensed and seen in groups discussing in low tones.

Our correspondent learnt that investigations into the various scandals in the sector were still ongoing and some principal officials of the agencies were being quizzed secretly by security agents.

An employee of one of the agencies, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, said rumours had been circulating that more directors and other workers might lose their jobs.

She said, “First, it was the minister; now it is the heads. As it is, nobody seems safe here because the process, as we have heard, is a continuous one.

“It is almost certain that more people will be sacked.”

Reacting to the development in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, a former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Group Captain John Ojikutu, said it was normal for more people, especially directors and heads of departments, to be affected in the gale of sackings taking place in the sector currently.

“I am certain some other directors of the affected agencies will also have to go; this is because when new people come in like that, they will want to put in their own people; so, I do not think it is over yet,” he said.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday approved a major reorganisation in the Ministry of Aviation, with changes in all the parastatals.

A terse statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi, said the Director of Projects at FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dumona, would replace Mr. George Uriesi as the managing director of the agency.

Also, the General Manager, Procurements, NAMA, Mr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam, replaces the erstwhile Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh.

The Government Safety Inspector & International Civil Aviation Organisation Focal Point for Nigeria on Aircraft Safety Information Systems, Capt. Samuel Caulcrick, takes over from Capt.  Chinyere Kalu as the rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.

The  Commissioner, Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, Capt. Muhktar Usman, replaces Capt. Fola Akinkuotu as the Director-General of the NCAA “subject to confirmation by the Senate.”