Task force recommends dissolving NAC board

The National National

A TASK force set up to look into the affairs of the National Airports Corporation (NAC) has made several recommendations, chief among them the dissolution of its board, the revocation of the appointment of its acting managing director and the negation of political interference in its management. The multi-agency investigative task force led by Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) interim chairman Thomas Eluh made the recommendations to the National Executive Council (NEC) while citing instability in the organisation. The recommendations come as the task force continues its investigation of NAC as per a call from Prime Minister James Marape. Eluh said the probe uncovered four factors that had affected the operation of the NAC:

  • NAC had recorded a high turnover of CEOs and MDs with six in the space of 10 years (since 2010);
  • ATTEMPTS by the Auditor General’s Office to audit NAC had not been successful, business records had been tampered with or destroyed;
  • A SHAREHOLDERS binding resolution dated Feb 19 and Feb 24 had directed the NAC board to rescind Ephraim Wasem’s appointment and reinstate Kiponge as acting MD; and,
  • KIPONGE had allegedly suspended and/or terminated officers in the organisation causing a state of confusion and apprehension among employees.

The task force’s recommendations included:

  • DISSOLUTION of the NAC board and appointment of a new board;
  • REVOCATION of the appointment of acting managing director and appointment of a caretaker MD;
  • CABINET reconsidering the role of shareholder ministers, particularly for binding resolutions;
  • INVESTIGATIONS by the taskforce to continue with the current police investigations; and,
  • SHAREHOLDER ministers should rescind their decision for the reappointment of Kiponge.