By By: Staff Writer
A fresh wave of concern has hit Roberts International Airport (RIA) following a series of abrupt staff changes orchestrated by the newly appointed Managing Director. But the controversy took a sharper turn after the latest communication from the Civil Service Agency (CSA), confirming an active probe into the unfolding situation.
Speaking to The People News early this morning, the Director-General of the CSA, Josiah Joekai, disclosed that reports of irregular staff dismissals and replacements at RIA had officially reached his office. Joekai confirmed that he is launching an immediate investigation to establish what triggered the Managing Director’s actions.
According to Joekai, the media reports and internal complaints point to possible procedural breaches, especially regarding the removal or movement of civil servants assigned to the airport. He emphasized that such decisions must follow established HR protocols under the Civil Service Standing Orders—procedures he believes may not have been observed.
“Yes, the reports have come to my attention, and we are taking steps to understand what happened and whether proper procedures were followed,” Joekai stated.
This marks the first formal acknowledgment from a government institution since news broke that the new Managing Director reportedly replaced nearly ten key staff members on his first day in office, including the Chief Financial Officer, senior accountants, Procurement Director, HR Manager, and the MD’s Chief of Staff.
Several of those brought in to replace the removed staff are said not to be employees of the RIA, further deepening alarms about whether the action was administrative—or part of a more troubling agenda.
In a separate development, The People News has announced plans to file a formal complaint to the Office of the Comptroller and Accountant General headed by Elwood Natee. The complaint seeks clarity on whether the financial department at RIA was compromised by the abrupt changes and whether the Ministry of Finance had prior knowledge or involvement.
These latest communications place additional pressure on the RIA leadership, as the swift restructuring of sensitive sectors—Finance, HR, and Procurement—continues to spark fears of internal manipulation or a coordinated attempt to gain control over critical operational units.
As investigations commence, stakeholders across government and the aviation sector await further explanations from the Managing Director, whose decisions have rapidly turned the nation’s main international airport into a center of public scrutiny.
More updates to follow as the CSA and the Accountant General’s office respond to the complaints.
