Aviation
NIMET Boss Tasks Staff On Productivity
The Director-General of Nigerian Meteorological Agency
(NIMET), Dr. Anthony Anuforo has enjoined staff of the agency to show greater
commitment to duty by surppassing the achievements of the past few years.
The NIMET boss stated this at a three-day business retreat
organised for the agency’s State Meteorological Inspectors (SMIs) and Chief
Meteorological Technicians (SMTs) at the Economic and Financial Crime
Commission (EFCC) Training Institute in Karu, Abuja.
In a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Eva
Azinge, Anuforum stressed the need for improved corporate performance as
articulated in the corporate strategic plan which he said should be
internalised and adopted by the entire workforce of the agency.
According to him, while we may have achieved some success,
it is also quite apparent that we need to do more with a lot of speed and
decisive precision, not only to address areas of our operations where we have
clearly under-performed, but to ensure that we are able to sustain and improve
on the areas that have already been achieved”.
He pointed out that the major objective of the retreat was
to create a forum for staff of the agency across board to contribute practical
ideas and thoughts that would galvanise the needed momentum to ensure that
NIMET did not only rapidly transform into a performance-driven organization,
but also a model for other public agencies.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has renewed the tenure of
Anuforum as NIMET’s Director-General for five years. This was disclosed by the
NIMET boss at a town-hall meeting at the Lagos Meteorological Operational
headquarters at Oshodi.
“It is fit, proper and respectful that you hear it from me
that my appointment as DG, NIMET expired in June this year and in accordance
with relevant laws and procedure, the federal government has graciously
approved that I continue for another term as DG of NIMET”, he said.
He noted that his reappointment would not have been possible
without the hard work and dedication of the staff and urged them to keep up the
good work.
As a measure to curb corruption and restore accountability, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), has called on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to push for the urgent formation and inauguration of governing boards for all other aviation agencies.
ANAP’s Secretary General, AbdulRasaq Saidu, made this call at the weekend when interacting with aviation correspondents, in reaction to recent inauguration of Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Keyamo had recently inaugurated the FAAN board, more than six months after its members were appointed by President Bola Tinubu, where Dr. Umar Ganduje was named Board Chairman, with FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, as the Vice Chairman.
Other board members include representatives from the Ministries of Justice, Defence, Tourism, and Aviation, as well as professionals from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and FAAN’s legal department.
The ANAP scribe there urged the aviation Minister not to stop at FAAN but to ensure that all aviation parastatals are given functional boards to restore order and credibility to the sector.
He, however, commended Keyamo for recently inaugurating the board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria but stressed that more needed to be done.
Saidu also warned that the continued delay in constituting boards for other aviation agencies creates room for unchecked abuses, including illegal contracts, fraudulent employment practices, and mismanagement.
“The absence of governing boards violates the enabling Acts that established these agencies. Only properly constituted boards can enforce discipline, ensure due process in decision-making, and provide oversight to prevent corruption”, Saidu said.
He emphasised that the aviation unions, including ANAP, have consistently raised concerns about poor governance and lack of transparency within the aviation system.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to act swiftly by appointing board members for all relevant agencies, in the interest of fairness and aviation safety.
Saidu also tackled the former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, for failing to inaugurate any boards during his eight-year tenure, despite appointments being made by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“ANAP raised the alarm several times under Sirika’s leadership, but nothing changed. That lapse has continued under the current administration, and it must be addressed now”, Saidu stated.
By: Corlins Walter
