NCAA AT 25: Group lauds acting DG, asks Tinubu to confirm appointment

A Civil Society Group, Centre for Leadership Excellence and Transparency (CELT), has lauded the outstanding and superlative performance of Captain Chris Najomo, the Acting Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). In a statement credited to CELT’s Executive Director, Dr. Gabriel Itodo, the group urged President Bola Tinubu to confirm […]

A Civil Society Group, Centre for Leadership Excellence and Transparency (CELT), has lauded the outstanding and superlative performance of Captain Chris Najomo, the Acting Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

In a statement credited to CELT’s Executive Director, Dr. Gabriel Itodo, the group urged President Bola Tinubu to confirm Najomo’s appointment.

The group said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority is a very fundamental Agency of government, saddled with the responsibility of regulating the aviation sector in Nigeria, with twenty (20) airports and many regulated airstrips and heliports; 23 active domestic airlines; 554 licensed pilots; 913 licensed engineers and 1700 cabin personnel.

Noting that, Nigeria being Africa’s most populous country is an important destination for over 22 foreign carriers, and currently have Bilateral Air Services Agreements with over 78 countries.

CELT argued that such a large and onerous responsibility demands a person of Najomo’s standing, pedigree and established tested and confirmed track-record of performance.

Describing him as a game changer, the group noted that to effectively tackle all the onerous responsibilities, he deliberately set in motion a very formidable working team of directors in the following areas ICT, Audit, Servicom, Information and Com. Technology and Audit Department.

Other Directorates include Directorate of Airworthiness Standard (DAWS), Directorate Operations, Licensing & Training Standards (DOLTS), Aerodrome & Airspace Standards (DAAS), Directorate of Air Transport, Regulation (DATR), Directorate of Aviation Security (DAS), Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection (DPA/CP), Directorate of Finance and Accounts (DFA), Directorate of Human Resources and Administration (DHR&A), Directorate of Corporate Service (DCS), Directorate Legal Services/ Company Secretary (DLS/CS), and Directorate Special Duties (DSD).

In a fresh start upon assumption of office barely months ago, the NCAA Director General accordingly, commenced the Registration of Aviation Fuel Suppliers, Renewal of Air Transport Licence (ATL), Renewal of Airline Operating Permit (AOP), Renewal of Permit for Aerial Aviation Services (PAAS) and Renewal of Air Travel Organizers’ Licence, all key components which will assist to both mitigate against inefficiency in service delivery as well as accelerate effectiveness and reliability in achieving the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Tinubu as well as the Ministerial 5-point agenda.

The group also lauded him for his “deliberate and ambitious leadership which has provided improved aviation infrastructural facilities at the airports’ including state-of-the-art navigational aids, modern weather forecasting equipment and highly skilled manpower to ensure safety and comfort of the flying public”.

Eulogizing further, they pointed at the payment of backlog of housing arrears to all staff, that accumulated for an upward of ten years period, he vigorously tackled staff stagnation issues, leading to inter-directorate deployment to open up bottlenecks in the structure, and subsequent promotion of stagnated staff from GL.14 to GL.15, and the clearance of the huge backlog of relocation allowance due to staff consequent upon the movement of the NCAA headquarters from Lagos to Abuja as part of his achievements aimed at boosting the morale of the staff.

“A highly dynamic down-to-earth leader, Najomo operates an open-door policy and a robust labour-relations, as he host regular engagement either formally or informally with the NCAA unions aimed at confidence-building, dialogue, peace and stability in the workforce.

“These deliberate efforts has led to the establishment of the “Staff Recognition and Reward Award”, an innovation which aims at celebrating and giving awards of recognition to deserving staff. This singular development has spurred the workforce leading to improved dedication and enhanced greater productivity of the staff.” the group stated.