By Morohundiya O.A
Nothing impacts more like true leadership birthed on an altruistic ground. The mantle of leadership fell on Captain Chris Najomo after it was clear that a reformer with a penchant for excellence should salvage the mess that has been brought upon the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority. As a man who had groomed himself for purposeful leadership, Captain Najomo stepped in as Acting Director General and the story changed for good.
Captain Najomo was born a year before Nigeria’s Independence and precisely on the 17th of September 1959. He didn’t waste time to get educated. As a matter of fact, he saw the future when he consciously undertook the Air Traffic Control Assistant course in 1980. That was his first perfect baptism into the Aviation industry and he has never stopped ferreting knowledge till date. Not resting on his oars, he invested heavily in his career by attending the Airline Training Institute in California and bagged the coveted Commercial Pilot License in 1983. Poised for more knowledge, Captain Najomo got CE550 rating in 1984 at the America Eagle Aviation, SE210 rating at Point Orly in France and BAC-II type rating at Aerlingus, Dublin, Ireland.
Before turning 26, Captain Najomo had turned to a star in the Aviation industry with recourse to knowledge, technical expertise and career progression. The multi-rated CPL holder had to his credit Airline Transport Pilot license from Pegasus Training Centre in Texas, B727 type-rating from USAIR Pittsburgh, EMB120, B73NG 600-900 and Airbus 330 from the prestigious Flight Safety International Centre in Paris, France.
However, leadership is so arduous that one’s certificates might not necessarily add any significant value to a rotten system that direly awaits radical positive change. For Captain Najomo whose incursion was primarily to salvage a messy system, pulling up, rebuilding and retooling the focus as well as operations of the NCAA became his driving force. He moved beyond making excuses for past failures while instilling patriotism in the workforce via laudable policies and programmes.
‘Jolly papa’ as fondly called by admirers swiftly understood that no organization can produce any meaningful results with a disgruntled and unhappy workforce. To achieve workforce harmony, the menace of staff stagnation was decisively dealt with. He reignited the passion of workers by ensuring that they enjoy conducive environment despite lean resources of the NCAA. With the friendly disposition of the Minister of Aviation, Captain Najomo carefully took workers welfare to its apogee and completely destroyed strife among workers.
The rich experience of yesteryears as Managing Director/CEO of reputable airlines has paid off in his ability to engender peaceful coexistence between the Authority and the trade unions who are usually at loggerheads with the management. Like a magic, dissenting voices went down with his touch of humility, candour and respect for all. Without any iota of doubt, Jolly papa represents modesty and hope. He has successfully eradicated animosity because he is trusted by all.
Najomo is a team player. He sees everyone as important to the goals of the Authority. He listens and bows to superior suggestions. This leadership qualities have earned him massive support from everyone and departments.
The establishment of the R-PAS unit remains the brain child of a reformer. This is not just timely but audacious. This will enhance safety in Civil Aviation by allowing for proper security check and monitoring. This ingenuity will generate income for the Federal Government at a trying time like this when the country’s economy is being shot by inclement economic realities. Such innovation will attract investors who will have confidence in the system and the entire Aviation industry will be positively charged for unrivaled development.
The lofty idea of certification and re-certification of private jet owners is a necessary fillip to the revenue drive of the government while providing ease of doing business as jet owners get AOC in order to go commercial.
In just five months, four notable airline companies got their AOC through a five stage process. These processes usually take between a year or two in the past because of the rot in the system. However, despite the ease with which airline companies get their AOC, Najomo led administration ensured strict compliance to all rules and SARPS.
Concerned about safety and best practices, the Najomo led administration took financial health audit seriously. On a quarterly basis, existing AOC holders are examined to ascertain financial capabilities in order to engender smooth and safe operations. This doesn’t hinder an enhanced surveillance carried out by well trained inspectors on daily basis.
Housing allowance arrears (2019-date)which has been a bottleneck and daydream of staff became a reality with the advent of Capt.Chris Najomo; training and retraining of staff as well as other welfare packages earned Najomo an undivided loyalty of the workers which has rubbed off positively on the Authority.
For a man who was a recipient of prestigious awards like Commander of the Midwest and 2006 Best Pilot of the year with impeccable experiences spanning 43 years as Pilot and CEO, the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hits rightly when Captain Chris Ona Najomo was called upon as Acting DG to rescue the NCAA from imminent ruin. President Tinubu has shown again that he is a man who knows how to search for stars anywhere they are. Najomo is a reformer with traceable track-records in the Aviation industry. His numerous certificates align perfectly with his sterling leadership acumen and the results have been unprecedented in the few months he has acted as the DG.
Morohundiya O. A, writing from the corona of Equity and Justice.
