IN the wake of the tsunami at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) a fortnight ago, government amidst fears of planned concession of the nation’s airports have concluded a personnel audit of the agency after its sack and redeployment of various top staff under the recommendation of a four-man Ministerial Committee.
This is just as there are growing concerns that over 500 staff of the airport authority have been pencilled down to be given the boot for various reasons not unconnected to the planned concession by government.
The tsunami that has left the airport authority a shadow of its former bubbling self led to the disengagement of two directors, the downward review of two others and various General Managers.
Directors of Administration, Airport Operations, Maintenance and Engineering and Cargo Development; Mr. Ikechi Ukoh Esq., Captain Henry Omeogu, Engineer Olufemi Ogunode and Dr. Uche Ofulue respectively were all affected while general Managers, Cargo Development, Finance, Civil Building, Corporate Affairs and Advertising, Administration, Business Development, retail and planning were downgraded.
Already, government has announced appointment of two new Directors for the agency; Mrs. Nike Aboderin, who was appointed Director of Finance& Accounts (DFA), and Mr. Sadiku Abdulkadir Rafindadi, appointed as Director of Commercial & Business Development (DCBD).
Other new posting in FAAN include, Engineers Salisu Daura General Manager Electrical, Musa Muhammed Dangana General Manager Welfare who will be reporting to Director Human Resources, Oyarelemi Mamud Abu, General Manager Environment who will oversee Airport Operations until a substantive Director is announced.
Others are Shallangwa James Bata, Deputy General Manager (Cargo) who will report to Director of Commercial and Business Development, Rafindadi and all the way from Abuja, Deputy General Manager Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu.
A source at the airport authority, however urged government to give career civil service employees a chance to grow in their ranks instead of bringing in foreigners who hardly understand the system and end up leaving it worse than they met it.
He also confided in our reporter about plans that may cost the jobs of over 500 workers in FAAN.
According to him, those that will be affected are those who have put in at least 25 years into the service. Others without proper employment letters are also going to lose their jobs.
The source told our correspondent that the downsizing in FAAN became necessary due to planned concession of four international airports in the first phase by the Federal Government as it was learnt that the concessionaire gave that as a prerequisite for the deal to go through.
