4 Months After, Former Aviation Agencies’ Heads Not Served Termination Letters

Four months after President Bola Tinubu approved the termination and replacement of all heads of agencies in the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the dismissed agency heads are yet to get letters from the ministry terminating their respective appointments from the Aviation ministry.

Recall that President Tinubu had on December 13th, 2023, sacked all heads of agencies in the aviation sector, and immediately appointed replacements.

The affected heads of agencies are; managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Kabir Yusuf Mohammed who was replaced with Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku; managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Tayib Adetunji Odunowo was also replaced with Engr. Umar Ahmed Farouk as the substantive Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

Also, the director-general of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Engr. Akinola Olateru was removed from office and replaced with Mr. Alex Badeh Jr. as the substantive Director-General; director-general of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, was removed from office and replaced with Prof. Charles Anosike as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

The rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Capt. Alkali Mahmud Modibbo was removed from office and replaced with Mr. Joseph Shaka Imalighwe as the Acting Rector. pending the appointment of a substantive Rector, in accordance with Section 13(2) of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act, 2022.

The director-general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu has been suspended from office to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct an unfettered investigation into the activities of the suspended Director-General and other senior officials in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority. Capt. Chris Najomo was appointed as the Acting Director-General of NCAA.

However, speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP, one of the sacked agency heads said they are yet to get a termination letter from the ministry.

The agency head also disclosed that they all get to know about the termination of their appointments through traditional, social media and some friends.

According to him, when they were appointed, they had an engagement letter which was what they used to exit the private sector for the government sector.

“The government is yet to communicate to us about our sack. Just like other agency heads in the aviation sector, I learnt about my sack through the media. No prior engagement from the government and till now, the government is yet to officially terminate our appointment.

“We gave our all to the service of the government. For instance, I exited the private sector because the government gave me an appointment letter. Now, I exited without any letter announcing my formal exit. How do I go back to the private sector without any formal announcement that I have left the government job,” he lamented.

When contacted, the spokesman of the minister of Aviation, Tunde Moshood, said he will cross-check and get across to our Correspondent.