NCAA DG: Union mulls strike, gives FG 21-day ultimatum
From Suleiman Idris, Lagos
Barring any changes, the country’s aviation sector will again be hit by an industrial action as workers ask the federal government to appoint a substantive director general for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The NCAA is the regulatory authority for the nation’s aviation sector, and is overseen by Engineer Benedict Adeyileka in acting capacity after the sack of Captain Fola Akinkuotu, who was barely six months on the job.
The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, said it was concerned over the non confirmation of a substantive DG for the NCAA almost five months after the announcement of a new head for the authority, in acting capaciity.
A petition addressed to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said the appointment of a substantive chief executive for the body was dragging for too long, following the inability of the government to transmit to the Senate the name of Captain Murktar Usman, for approval.
Captain Usman was redeployed from his position as head of the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB), to take charge of the NCAA during a shake-up that swept others away.
The document, signed by Captain Tar Tanongo, Deputy National Secretary of ATSSSAN, warned that the Civil Aviation Act does not recognise a person holding that office in acting capacity.
“We hereby give the federal government through your office, 21 days ultimatum to do all the due diligences and give us a substantive DG or we will have no other option than to ground all operations in the aviation industry in Nigeria. This sir, serves as a 21 days’ notice of strike action”, the statement warned.
