ATSSSAN Petitions Presidency On Delay In Confirming Substantive DG for NCAA.

By Chuks Okoh
The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association Of Nigeria ATSSSAN, has expressed concern over the non confirmation of a substantive Director General for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority NCAA almost five months after the announcement of a new boss for the authority.
In a petition to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation SGF Dr Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, dated 18 June 2014 and signed by Captain Tar Tanongo, Deputy National Secretary of ATSSSAN, the association said the appointment of a substantive DG was dragging too long following the inability of the government to transmit to the Senate the name of Capt Murktar Usman for approval.
The Union warned that the Civil Aviation Act does not recognise that office in acting capacity.
According to them, several legal and vital documents and activities were being performed that might become issues of contention and litigations in future, stressing that the aviation industry has suffered and is still suffering from several decisions taken by the government that cost the agencies billions of naira to remedy and embarrassment to the federal government as was the case under the six months acting DG of NCAA prior to the confirmation of Captain Fola Akinkuotu, former DG in 2013.
The union gave the government a 21 day ultimatum within which to act or they will ground the aviation industry in the country.
“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, 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”
ATSSSAN said it has waited patiently, hoping the issue will be corrected and had endured all the out burst and accusation from members. Aviation is not an industry to toy with as any negative decision can mortgage safety of operations, it said.