Gale of appointments, re-deployments, retirement hits in aviation agencies

The Federal Ministry of Aviation has carried out a comprehensive redeployment and retirement exercise in all its agencies in the aviation industry.

In the exercise carried out last week, some Directors were reappointed, some were eased out of the system while others got redeployed to other departments.

Also affected are aides to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, was replaced with a former Director of Operations in the agency, Mr Lawrence Pwajok, after Akinkuotu’s five-year tenure ended on Sunday, January 9, 2022.

Pwajok, who retired from the service in December 2021, is expected to oversee the Office of the Managing Director. He was directed to do so in a letter emanating from the Ministry of Aviation, Human Resource Management FMA/ PS/ APPT/ CEO/014/1/23 and addressed to the Managing Director director/ CEO of the agency.

The letter, titled, ‘Appointment of Director to Oversee the Office of the Managing Director/ CEO’ and signed by A.D Muhammad for the Honourable Minister reads, ”I am directed to inform you that the Honourable Minister has approved that Mr. Pwajok, Mathew Lawrence, Director of Operations oversee the Office of the Managing Director/ CEO, pending the appointment of a substantive MD/CEO”

Addressing the immediate past Managing Director, the letter continued, “You are to kindly accord the Director all the necessary support and cooperation he needs while overseeing the office.

” While thanking you for your usual cooperation, please accept the esteem regards of the Honourable Minister.” It concluded.

The letter signed by the Director, Human Resources Management, S.D. Muhammed and dated January 12, 2022, with reference number FM/PS/APPT/CEO/014/1/12 addressed to the Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu and obtained by Aviation Metric, also stated, ‘I am directed to inform that the Minister of Aviation has approved the re-appointment and redeployment of Directors and Special Assistants in the office of the Minister and the agencies as indicated in the attached list.

“Officers deployed to the Minister’s Office are to continue to draw salaries and other entitlements from the agencies of deployment. I am also requesting that all handing and taking over exercise where applicable be completed before the close of work on January 21, 2022”.

In the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Adamu Wakili has been appointed Director, Human Resources, Capt Chris Najomo, Director Air Transport Regulation whose appointments took effect from January 7, 2022.

Bahagio Agio, who was first appointed as Director, Operations, Licensing and Training Standards on September 2, 2017, retained his position; Odunowo Tayib, who was first appointed as Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards in 2017, also retained his position.

The same goes for Sani Bilikisu and Ajiboye Isiaka, who both retained their positions as Director of Finance and Accounts and Director, Airworthiness Standards, respectively.

Musa Mai Sallau, who was first appointed as a director in May 1990 got reappointed as Director, Human Resources in the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

Alhaji Umar Farouk Ahmed retained his position as Director, Engineering and Electronics, NAMA, while Pwajok Lawrence Mathew, who retired after 35 years of service, was re-appointed as a director and he has been asked to oversee NAMA days after Capt. Akinkuotu’s first tenure of five years ended last week.

Hauwa Usman Usara was posted to head the Legal wing of the airspace agency.

In FAAN, Anozie Hanarius was reappointed Director, Human Resources, while Aboderin Adenike retained her position as Director, Finance and Administration.

Abdulkadir Rafindadi and Capt Yusuf Muye take Commercial and Business Development and Operations, respectively, while Alli Maina has been appointed Director, Engineering Gold Bridget Iwinose heads the Legal Unit.

At the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Capt Dayyabu Danraka, who was first appointed as Director of Operations, got his appointment confirmed and retained his position.

Mohammed Wali is Director, Engineering, while Salisu Auwal is now Director, Human Resources and Kakangi Aliyu is Legal Adviser.

At the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Director, Human Resources retained his position, Charles Anosike was appointed as Director AMS, Abdul Ahmed, Director, Legal; Saad Bashie, director, Director, Engineering and Technical Services; Abba Mailabi Yusuf is Director, Weather Forecasting Services; Effiom Essien Oku appointed Director, Research and Training and Hamza Sani Hamza as Director, Finance and Accounts.