BUSINESS Anxiety in NCAA, NiMet over merger

The recommended merger of three parastatals under the ministry of aviation by the Federal Government is causing apprehension among members of staff and management of the agencies.

The Federal Government had, last week, accepted the recommendation of the Steven Oronsaye-led Presidential Committee on the Restructuring and Rationalisation of pulic parastatals, commissions and agencies, that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMeT) be merged into a new body known as Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA).

Daily Trust learnt that the workers were particularly worried about their jobs which they feared may be affected by the merger.

While most technical workers of the NCAA are hopeful of retaining their jobs, staff in the administration, finance/account departments and other supporting staff in both agencies felt they could be retrenched.

Also, staffers in the senior/management cadre in both agencies also fret about their jobs. Part of the implications of the merger is that some of the directors and other high ranking officials in these three agencies would be affected by the merger in order to avoid the duplication of their offices.

Although industry stakeholders have kicked against the planned merger, government said the enabling laws establishing the agencies would be amended to reflect the new development.

Some staffers who spoke on condition of anonymity from the regional office of the NCAA and the headquarters of NiMeT, both located at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, expressed their frustration over the development, appealing to government to rescind its decision on the merger.

Some NCAA workers who lamented that they were only recruited just three years ago, also called for an alternative solution.

They said government must not let the merger stand in the interest of the sector and because the agency is one of the top revenue generating agencies in the aviation sector in Nigeria.

“The president has been clamouring for job creation, so downsizing now means he is not keeping to his words” an NCAA staffer said.

Members of staff of NiMeT who were seen going about their normal daily activities, declined to make any comment when asked to do so.