One week after the federal government, through the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr Festus Keyamo, appointed almost 46 directors to assume positions at the aviation agencies, there is an ongoing air of uncertainty brewing at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over the appointment of an officer on grade level 13 to head a department that already has officers on level 17.
According to information gathered by the Nigerian Tribune, the development which has already lowered the morale of workers in the aviation security department of the organisation, is presently creating disharmony amongst the workers.
The officer at the centre of the storm before his appointment by Keyamo was said to be an assistant commissioner of police on level 13 before he was announced as against to the civil service rules to head a sensitive department like the security department which has in existence merited workers who grew through the civil service career progression to qualify for the position.
The affected officer who was still in service until his controversial appointment and is said to be coming to report at his new position on Friday may face rejection by the aggrieved and more qualified workers who vowed to hands off him.
One of the aggrieved workers who lamented to the Nigerian Tribune wondered why the new government decided to take this decision.
The incoming director of the security department is rumored to be the school mate of the minister and a former orderly to the president.
According to one of the aggrieved: “Its so painful putting us through this demoralisation. FAAN is not a police extension. He will now set us backward. What does he know about aviation security. What does he know about the International Civil Aviation Organization or International Air Transport.
“If he wanted airport so much, the president could have promoted him as airport police commissioner. Airport commission is level 14 and we have assistant inspector general of police, how will that work? Can he call security meetings to chair senior DSS, NPF, EFCC at the airport?. Aviation security in FAAN has so many seniors, Three general managers, over 50 deputy general managers and over 200 assistant general managers.
“His mates are Assistant Chief Aviation Security Officer on grade level 13. Chief Aviation Security Officer ( ACADO) is on grade level 14 with over 300 workers on the level. In general, we have over 400 managers nationwide in AVSEC from level 15 and above.”
The AVSEC department of FAAN has staff strength of over 3,000 nationwide. They form the bulk of FAAN workers because of the technicality of the department.
The minister had appointed about 46 directors for the different directorates among which are the newly created directorates.
Out of the 46 directors appointed 11 are for FAAN including the director in charge of aviation security services, the director at the centre of the storm.
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