Employees of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have petitioned aviation minister Festus Keyamo over alleged corruption in and “northernisation” of the agency.

In a letter dated September 29, the NCAA staff accused the national aviation agency’s previous and current NCAA executives of diverting an estimated N8 billion from 2019 to 2023 through their cronies.

They alleged that money was stolen through multiple payments of approved payment vouchers, direct payments to contractors on fictitious contracts, direct payments to chosen staff members, and alteration of REMIT bank statements for legal audit purposes.

According to a letter seen by Peoples Gazette on Tuesday, the NCAA staff informed Mr Keyamo that former aviation minister Hadi Sirika was also aware of the disturbing level of corruption in the agency but reportedly made efforts along with other senior management of the agency to sweep the matter under the carpet.

The staff also claimed that Mr Sirika had already made confessional admissions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in which NCAA’s director-general Musa Nuhu and other family members working at the agency were involved in the alleged stealing of public funds.

Mr Musa, the NCAA honcho, declined to comment on the allegations when contacted on the matter by The Gazette.

The letter revealed that the EFCC, following preliminary investigations, ordered the accused to make some reimbursements to the government coffers. However, the NCAA director-general declined to form a disciplinary commission to investigate the fraud.

“The financial recklessness of the current management, if not curbed, cautioned and/or probed, may imminently lead the organization to nowhere but collapse,” the staff wrote Mr Keyamo. “It will amaze you sir that our out-gone Director of Finance and Accounts in connivance with some Finance and Accounts staff, namely; Hajia Bilkisu Adamu Sani (Out-gone DFA), Kaainjo Nathaniel, Obene Jenbarimiema Turniel, Hart Benson, Lasisi Olayinka and others, MISAPPROPRIATED the Federal Government’s Fund in care of the Authority (NCAA) close to the sum of Eight Billion Nara Only (8,000,000,000.00K) from year 2019 to 2023. As ridiculous as this may be, it is really factual.”

They said that “these nefarious acts were perpetrated through multiple payments of approved payment vouchers, direct payment to contractors on non-existing contracts, direct payment to selected staff who renders returns to the DFA for sharing amongst the clique and alteration of REMIT bank statement for statutory audit purpose.”

The letter added, “This matter is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), however, the Executive Management of the Authority, with the support of the out-gone Minister (Had Sirika) is making efforts to sweep the matter under the carpet because the accused have made confessionary statement that indicted the Director General/CA (Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu) and the out-gone DFA who is a sister in-law to Hadi Abubakar Sirika (Out-gone Minister) in the entire fraud.”

The staff also mentioned in the letter that the EFCC, following their preliminary investigations, directed the accused to make “some refunds to the coffer of the government,” a directive they said was an “affirmation of corruption and fraudulent use of their offices for personal enrichment.” 

“It will surprise you sir that the Director General/CA has refused to set up disciplinary committee to look into this weighty fraudulent It also accused the Director, Human Resources and Administration Adamun Wakil of allegedly being involved in awarding contracts to his friends and cronies by circumventing and influencing the Public Procurement Process,” the letter said.

It added, “Manpower Development and Trainings classified as capital projects of the Authority have turned a mere money-making venture to the management because the director in-charge lacks the know-how. Local training is over invoiced to the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (500,000.00K) for a local training, awarded to his friends and families.” 

“Your deployment to this ministry is a blessing,” the NCAA employees told Mr Keyamo. “Your pedigree, antecedents and believe in the RENEWED HOPE of the current government as evidenced by your active and unwavering involvement in the birth of this government says a lot about your stance on a new Nigeria.”

The letter further said, “It is on this note that we, the concerned staff of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have deemed it worthwhile to avail you nothing but the true state of affairs in our Authority to enable you chart the right cause of actions as you resume your giant stride to developing Aviation Industry in line with global standard.

“Sir, while we pray for your success in office, we also pray that the most-high GOD directs your paths to contribute towards building a home called NIGERIA. Long Live NCAA, Long Live Aviation Industry and long Live Nigeria.”