FCC, FAAN Pledge Stronger Collaboration On Fair Recruitment, Staff Deployment
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) Committee on Works, Transport and Aviation and the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have pledged to strengthen collaboration to promote fairness, inclusivity and equitable representation in recruitment, promotion and staff deployment.
The commitment was made on Tuesday during an interactive session between the committee, chaired by Hon. Peter Ogbonna Eze, and FAAN management at the FCC headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting focused on FAAN’s workforce practices and measures to improve compliance with the Federal Character principle while maintaining professional competence and aviation safety standards.
Speaking at the session, Eze emphasised the need for federal institutions to provide qualified Nigerians from all parts of the country with equal opportunities to contribute to national development.
He noted that fairness and merit should complement each other, stressing that transparent employment practices could promote national inclusivity without compromising professional excellence.
“Fairness is not a substitute for merit, and merit should not become an excuse for exclusion. Our goal is a workforce that is both professionally excellent and nationally representative,” he said.
Eze, who represents Enugu State as a Federal Commissioner, explained that the engagement was designed to assess existing compliance levels, identify challenges and develop practical solutions to strengthen cooperation between FAAN and the commission.
He urged the airport authority to demonstrate its commitment to equitable opportunities beyond the submission of compliance documents, noting that a workforce reflecting Nigeria’s diversity would strengthen public confidence and support national development.
Responding, FAAN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to the Federal Character principle but stressed that recruitment and deployment decisions must also reflect the specialised requirements of the aviation industry.
She disclosed that FAAN’s annual promotion exercises involved consultations with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Salaries and Wages Commission.
Onabanjo-Kuku also said that, to the best of her knowledge, FAAN had not received any correspondence from the FCC alleging non-compliance with the Federal Character principle.
She maintained that the authority was committed to following the prescribed procedures and welcomed further guidance from the commission on notification requirements for recruitment and promotion exercises.
The FAAN managing director explained that the authority’s operations were guided by international aviation standards, including those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which determine personnel qualifications and operational requirements.
According to her, FAAN manages 22 airports and provides management services for about six others on behalf of state governments and private-sector interests.
She noted that passenger traffic and operational activities were concentrated in a few airports, making staff deployment dependent on specific operational demands.
Onabanjo-Kuku identified aviation security and fire and rescue services as critical areas requiring additional personnel, adding that recruitment into such specialised roles must consider stipulated age, health and physical fitness requirements.
She said FAAN would continue to balance the technical demands of airport operations with the need to ensure compliance with Federal Character guidelines.
In a related development, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, assured FAAN of the commission’s readiness to establish a cordial and productive working relationship with federal agencies.
Omidiran gave the assurance when Onabanjo-Kuku paid her a courtesy visit following the interactive session.
She explained that the commission was adopting a more streamlined approach to compliance through direct engagement with heads of government institutions.
According to her, the interactive sessions were intended to clarify the commission’s expectations and secure the personal commitment of agency heads to implementing the required standards.
She added that direct engagement was necessary to strengthen accountability and eliminate uncertainty surrounding compliance procedures.
Omidiran expressed optimism that sustained cooperation between the commission and federal institutions would improve institutional relations and reinforce adherence to the Federal Character principle.
The engagement highlighted the shared commitment of the FCC committee, FAAN management and the commission’s leadership to promoting fairness, professional competence and equitable representation across Nigeria’s federal public service.
