The Federal Government has sacked the Director of Finance at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Mr. Tochukwu Bede Uchendu.
A letter dated April 27, 2015, signed by A A Tsafe Director, Human Resource Management, for the Minister of Aviation read: “We regretfully inform you that the letter is hereby withdrawn pending the conclusion of the necessary due process on the matter.”
The letter further directed Mr Tochukwu Uchendu to vacate the office until the due process was concluded and formal letter of appointment issued to him.
It would be recalled that two aviation unions, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) petitioned the Head of Service of the federation, calling for the sack of two directors in FAAN over “irregularities in their appointments”.
The petition described the appointments of the directors of finance and commercial in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) illegal.
The petition addressed to the Head of Service and signed by Omotaje B. Olawale on behalf of the General Secretary said the appointments breached established principles.
The petitioners claimed that the now sacked Director of Finance, FAAN, Mr Tochukwu Uchendu, was working in the minister’s company, Consumer Investment Limited and as such may not be able to discharge his duties without fear or favour as he would inevitably have to contend with conflict of interests. The unions, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ATSSSAN also kicked against the recent appointment of director of Commercial, Mr. Omikunle Adedoyin, who was the General Manager of Commercial for eight years and was supposed to retire in accordance with civil service rules.
“The Director of Commercial has served the requisite eight years permissible by extant public service rules of two (four years) tenures for officers of GL.17, therefore, he should have left or be relieved of his post on completion of the mandatory term of tenure effectively on the 13th March, 2015. It should be noted that at the end of the eight years, there was no provisions for either an extension or movement, thus, his present appointment is a cannibalization of due process” the unions noted.
