By Abiola Olawale
Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, on Wednesday, debunked reports making rounds in some sections of the media that the tenure of Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), Mr Chris Najomo has ended.
Head of Press and Public Affairs, Mr Oduseyi Olutayo, in a press release issued on Wednesday described the reports as false and baseless.
Olutayo in the statement clarified that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not appoint Najomo to head the agency for a six-month tenure.
According to him, though the Public Service Rules (PRS), said the period of acting appointment shall not exceed one year, there are exceptional cases where the tenure may be extended for another year.
The statement reads in part: “PRS which defines employment relationship between employees in the Public Service and the Government in section 7: 020704(b) on Acting Appointment stipulates” that the period of Acting appointment shall not exceed one year, but in exceptional circumstances may be extended for another year”. The Acting Director-General, Mr. Chris Najomo has been in office for only six months.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu did not appoint Capt. Chris Najomo as Acting Director General of NCAA on a six-month tenure. The appointment of Capt. Chris Najomo’s Acting Capacity was based on the suspension of the former Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority by Mr President based on an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission on allegations of corruption against him.
“This clarification has become expedient in order not to create unnecessary tension and disaffection in the Civil Aviation Industry. There is no worry at all about the tenure of Najomo as he remains the Acting Director-General of the NCAA.”
It would be recalled that in December 2023, Tinubu suspended Captain Musa Nuhu from the position of director general of the NCAA due to alleged corrupt practices.
Nuhu was subsequently handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for further investigation.
