The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Musa Nuhu, has submitted his terminal leave letter to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, marking a new development in the contest for the top position.
Earlier reports highlighted a competitive race involving the acting DG, Capt. Chris Najomo, and several industry experts vying to become the substantive head of the aviation regulatory agency, according to The Punch.
The situation has caused unrest within the NCAA, as employees discreetly align with their preferred candidates.
Meanwhile, stakeholders, including the Airline Operators of Nigeria, remain divided over the confirmation of Capt. Chris Najomo as the substantive DG.
However, workers’ unions at the agency have endorsed Najomo, urging President Bola Tinubu to forward his name to the Senate for confirmation.
On December 13, 2023, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development announced the suspension of Musa Nuhu as the Director-General of the NCAA over allegations of corrupt practices.
The ministry stated in a release that Nuhu would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation.
One year after the announcement, neither the EFCC nor the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has made any public statement regarding the findings of the investigation. It remains unclear whether the case is still ongoing.
Najomo was appointed in an acting capacity on December 13, 2023.
According to civil service rules, his one-year acting tenure is set to expire on Thursday, December 12, 2024.
Unless reappointed by the president on the recommendation of the minister, Najomo is expected to step down from office on or before December 13, 2024, just two days away.
The rules added: “Approved acting appointment shall be gazetted by the Federal Civil Service Commission, but it will on no account be backdated to a period in excess of six months of the date of receipt of the recommendation by the commission.
“The period of acting appointment shall not exceed one year but, in exceptional circumstances, may be extended for another year.”
Industry rumours suggest that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, may extend the acting DG’s tenure.
Musa Nuhu’s five-year tenure as DG is set to end on February 23, 2025, having assumed office on February 24, 2020.
Among those lobbying for the position are staff members of the Directorate of Operations, Licensing, and Training Standards at the NCAA, as well as at least two senior staff members from Indigenous airlines, who are also vying for the role.
In an interview, the suspended DG, confirmed that he had sent his terminal leave letter to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development over two weeks ago and was still awaiting an official response at the time of this report.
Maintaining his innocence, Nuhu stated that he first learned of his suspension through social media and, as of the report’s filing, had not received any official letter relieving him of his duties nor been formally indicted of any crime.
He said, “I don’t know what is happening as I am talking to you right now. The truth is that I tendered my terminal leave letter as recognised by the law, but two weeks later, I am still waiting for the minister’s response.
“Almost a year after my removal from office, I have yet to get any letter of suspension from the government. I read of my suspension while I was outside the country on an official assignment.”
When asked if the ministry had received or responded to Nuhu’s letter, the Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry claimed ignorance of the letter, saying, “I am not aware of this.”
