City Crime
Dana Crash Report: NASS To FG: Sack NCAA DG, Inspector
The National Assembly has directed that the appointments of the Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren and that of the Inspector, Engr Suleiman Akwuh be terminated for professional negligence and incompetence respectively
In spite of the fact that Dana Airline has restored its operations some months back, the National Assembly also directed that the airlines’ current AOC should be revoked on the ground that it was not originally issued in accordance with the NCAA regulations 2009.
The Senate at plenary on Tuesday, gave these directives following the findings of the joint committee (Senate and House of Reps) after its investigations on the remote causes of the June 03, 2012 crash of the ill fated Dana aircraft which claimed over 150 lives.
The joint Committee led by Senator Hope Uzodimma had in its report on November 29, 2012 indicted both the Dana Airline operators and the NCAA management.
The report as read and considered at the Senate chambers showed that the ill-fated aircraft had not been air worthy and had been involved in five out of 14 air returns due to system failures recorded in the airline between October, 2009 and May, 2012.
The actual age of the ill-fated aircraft according to the report was 22 years , an old generation air craft (MD83) “that has been decommissioned by the manufacturer and phased out by many airlines”.
Amongst anomalies that played out during the investigation , the lawmakers found out that Dana airline has no credible insurance certificate as there was no evidence to authenticate their claim to have been insured by the Lloyd of London while families of the aircrash victims petitioned the committee over the failure of the airline to pay due compensation on victims.
The poor condition of both the management of the NCAA, Accident Investigation Bureau(AIB) , Airport Fire fighting and search and rescue department of FAAN whose low capacity were said to have made way for such huge losses of lives as some could have been rescued if prompt action was taken .
While Dana failed to avail the committee of some useful documents, the committee also found out that the N200 billion Aviation Intervention Fund was only used to refinance existing facility with banks instead of improving the services of airlines in Nigeria.
Equipments and facilities in the airports were also found to be in abysmal conditions .
The committee therefore amongst others recommended that MD83 aircrafts be phased out and the AIB (FAAN) , NAMA be properly equipped.
The lawmakers demanded that the management and operations of NCAA remain autonomous and insists that every other investigation reports on air mishaps including Bellview, Sosoliso be revisited and made public.
During the consideration of the committee reports, the Senate was almost unanimous on the rot in the aviation sector as occasioned by notable corrupt practices .
Senator Chris Ngige noted that due to corruption , aircrafts which were not air worthy were certified to fly Nigerian air space
“We lost 153 persons on board the airline . This is a situation of culpable homicide , people went and brought an aircraft that is not worthy for any air space in the world to fly in Nigeria,” Ngige said
On the termination of the appointments of Dr Dumoren and Engr Akwuh , Senator Aidoko Attai Ali bluntly made it clear that all those indicted in the remote causes of the monumental loss by now should have resigned.
Briefing Senate correspondents after plenary , the chairman of the joint Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodimma, noted that there were attempts by some groups to scuttle the report of the committee but insisted that the committee’s insistence on the interest of Nigerians prevailed.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
The Rivers State Government has vowed to enforce strict compliance with approved building plans by property owners and developers in the State to guarantee safety and adherence to regulatory standards.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, in his inaugural meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Directors and staff of the Ministry, said he would ensure full implementation of the Physical Planning Development Law of the State.
He warned that the Rivers State Government will no longer condone a situation where developers make deliberate adjustment or completely deviate from approved building plan in the execution of their projects without recourse to the Ministry.
Hon. Bipi solicited the cooperation of the civil servants of the Ministry while promising to run an open door policy and be easily accessible.
He also promised to right the wrongs, make a positive impact and leave an enduring legacy in the Ministry.
He promised to enhance the physical landscape and aesthetic of Old and New GRA as well as other parts of Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Surv. Wisdom Hebron, assured the Commissioner of maximum cooperation to foster a harmonious working environment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the payment of N85,000.00 as the new minimum wage for civil servants in the employ of the Rivers State Government.
This is the agreement reached during a closed door meeting presided over by the Governor and attended by representatives of organised labour under the auspices of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council in the State at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, who spoke on behalf of the Government, affirmed that Governor Fubara has graciously approved a new minimum wage of N85,000.00, adding that the government will begin in November, 2024.
Dr George said, “He (Gov Fubara) has pronounced a figure that is higher than the National Minimum Wage. He pronounced a sum of N85,000.00, which is higher than the minimum wage that was prescribed nationally.
“So, as the Head of Service and a major stakeholder in the labour family, I am very happy to say that the Rivers State Civil Servants have never had it this good since the inception of this State.
“The labour union leaders and all the other major stakeholders were happy with this development,” he added.
Responding to possible payment of arrears, Dr Nwaeke, said it is yet to be determined because a technical committee has been set up to critically work out a tenable payment chart, which will cater to issues of arrears.
He clarified, “Issues of arrears will be worked out by the committee that I am going to be Deputy to the SSG. We are already going to work on it in a technical committee that will now get the nitty gritty of the payment and inform the press later.”
On his part, the Rivers State Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Emecheta Chuku, explained that this is their first meeting with Governor Fubara to discuss the issue of the new minimum wage as approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Comrade Chuku pointed to the fact that the gracious approval of N85,000.00 new minimum wage is very appeasing to the labour leaders, adding that it demonstrates love for the workers.
He explained, “For the Governor to come, against all the crisis, against all the things that he is facing and more, to say he will pay N85,000.00 minimum wage, I think our hearts are full of joy.
“Of course, we have no doubt, knowing the kind of person we have as our Governor. He is a decent man; very responsible enough; and grew through the rank and file of the system. He understands what it takes to earn a living salary; he understands the difference between gifting money and paying somebody salary that can sustain him or her from the first day to the last day of the month.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State Chapter, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, noted that the amount approved by Governor Fubara puts Rivers State Government ahead of Lagos State as the highest minimum wage paying State to civil servants in Nigeria.
He stressed, “Why do I say that? Lagos State said N85,000.00 and Rivers State is paying N85,000.00. The IGRs of Lagos State and Rivers State are not the same. So, for the Governor to agree to pay the same rate with Lagos, that means we are at the top of it.
“We are the best, and we want to continue to commend the Governor. We assure him that, as far as this State is concerned, labour is going to stand with him. We will be with him even until the next eight years.
“I want to commend His Excellency, Executive Governor of Rivers State, our own Number One Worker in Rivers State, he has, once again, proven that the workers in Rivers State gave him an award on May Day as the Champion of Labour, as the Most Labour-Friendly Governor in Nigeria. He, again, has shown that to us today, and I want to commend him.”
He added that they were returning to the State Secretariat Complex to inform workers of the Governor’s magnanimity and benevolence towards civil servants in the State.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has felicitated Muslim faithful as they celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, urging them to show love, tolerance, perseverance, patriotism and commitment to the growth and development of the State.
Governor Fubara, in a message in Port Harcourt, the State capital, urged the Muslim Ummah to use the lessons of the 12th day of the third month of Rabi’ al-Awwal to reflect on the core teachings of the Holy Prophet, and interceed for one another as exemplified by the sacrifices He made for humanity.
The Governor charged the faithful in the State and across the country to commit to ensuring that they continue to benefit from the genuine policies and programmes of government put in place to make live easy for all living and doing business in the State, without discrimination.
He said, “I, on behalf of the government and good people of Rivers State, heartily felicitate all Muslim faithful on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud celebration, to honour the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and urge for prayers for the revival and unity of Nigeria.
“The occasion, yet again, provides an opportunity to reflect deeply on the need for greater application of the Prophet’s teachings bordering on piety, charity, patience, resilience, justice and peaceful coexistence,” he added.
Governor Fubara assured the Muslim community in Rivers State, and indeed, all residents of the resolve of his administration to sustain the tempo of providing critical projects and social services to improve the quality of life of the people.
