LAGOS – African Aviation Renaissance Group (AARG), a Non-Governmental Orgaisation (NGO), which aim is to entrench safety in the aviation industry, has commended Capt. Chris Najomo, the Ag. Director-General Civil Aviation (ADGCA) for his innovative direction since he assumed office almost a year ago.
The group in an interaction with aviation journalists in Lagos over the weekend, listed the achievements of Najomo since his appointment December last year.
According to the group, the sterling performance of Najomo should earn him a substantive position in the apex regulatory agency in the Nigerian aviation industry, stressing that this would enable him to do more.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Comrade Akanbi Adimula, Spokesman, AARG, said that Najomo’s appointment had turned out to be the much-needed elixir and healing balm, which the NCAA and civil aviation in the country needed to push it to the right pedestal.
The group mentioned his collaboration with Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development to implement his five-point agenda.
The Key Performance Indexes (KPIs) as unveiled by Keyamo are strict compliance to safety regulations; support for the growth and sustenance of local operators; improvement of infrastructure; human capital development and optimisation of revenue generation.
Besides, the group said that within a short time, Najomo had been able to transform the workplace climate at the regulatory authority through enhanced collaboration amongst the management team, as well as between the workers’ body and top management.
The group posited that today at NCAA, administration flows seamlessly with reduced stress, improved employee retention and with greater commitment of the staff to their regulatory oversight responsibilities.
Adimula emphasised that since his assumption of office, Najomo had ensured the payment of backlog of housing arrears to all staff, which he said had accumulated from 2019.
He added: “He has vigorously tackled staff stagnation issues – the Hon. Minister of Aviation accepted the recommendation of the Ag. DGCA and approved an inter-directorate deployment to open up bottlenecks in the structure, and subsequent promotion of stagnated staff from GL.14 to GL.15. These staff have been stagnated on same career position for between five and 10 years without promotion.
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“Also, he has tackled payment of huge backlog of relocation allowance due to staff consequent upon the movement of the NCAA headquarters from Lagos to Abuja by the Federal government. He also operates an open-door policy and regular engagement either formally or informally with the NCAA unions to ensure peace and stability in the workforce.”
Besides, Najomo is working assiduously with the National Assembly Committees on Aviation and the ministry, which has resulted in the early approval of the 2024 training budget for staff.
He has also within the period, conducted induction plus retreat for top management staff of NCAA, which was carried out in February this year, the group said.
Adimula further expressed that the Acting DGCA was able to sign a performance bond with each director at the end of this retreat, thereby setting the stage for him to meet his target for 2024.
According to him, Najomo also institutionalised meritorious service recognition for deserving staff, stressing that this commenced with three staff of the agency in Port Harcourt Regional Office benefitting from this recognition earlier in the year.
He argued that this innovation had led to improved dedication and greater productivity of the staff across the country.
He added: “Inauguration of committees to review the NCAA Scheme of Service and Staff Conditions of Service as part of improved staff welfare. The respective committees have almost completed their assignment, which the Ag. DGCA is ready to secure necessary approval for immediate implementation.
“Civil Aviation Master Plan (CAMP) Preparation of the CAMP assisted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has effectively taken off! ICAO conducted the training and several meetings have taken place with Nigeria’s counterparts.”
He posited that Najomo had enjoyed unparalleled support from the Minister of Aviation, as well as cooperation of the various heads of sister aviation agencies since his assumption of office.
Adimula pointed out that the appointment of Najomo was a step in the right direction and hoped he would be confirmed by the government to continue his work.
