The Federal Character Commission (FCC) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have resolved to strengthen collaboration to ensure fair recruitment, promotion and staff deployment across the aviation sector.
The two agencies said the partnership would promote equitable representation of Nigerians from different parts of the country while maintaining professional competence and safety standards in airport operations.
The commitment followed an interactive session between the FCC Committee on Works, Transport and Aviation, chaired by Hon. Peter Ogbonna Eze, and FAAN management at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting examined FAAN’s compliance with Federal Character guidelines, identified challenges and explored measures to ensure equal employment opportunities in the aviation industry.
Speaking at the session, Eze stressed the need for federal institutions to give qualified Nigerians from all parts of the country fair opportunities to contribute to national development.
He said merit and fairness should complement each other in public sector employment, rather than being treated as competing principles.
“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.
The FCC committee chairman, who represents Enugu State as a federal commissioner, said the engagement was aimed at reviewing existing practices, identifying areas requiring improvement and strengthening cooperation between the commission and FAAN.
He urged the airport authority to demonstrate its commitment to equitable representation beyond submitting compliance documents, noting that a workforce reflecting Nigeria’s diversity would promote public confidence and national development.
Eze added that the meeting should produce measurable commitments to reinforce the constitutional responsibility of federal institutions to uphold the Federal Character principle.
Responding, FAAN Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to the principle but stressed that recruitment and staff deployment must also meet the specialised professional requirements of the aviation industry.
She explained 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 said, to the best of her knowledge, FAAN had not received any correspondence from the FCC alleging non-compliance with its guidelines.
She, however, welcomed further clarification from the commission on the procedures for notifying it about recruitment and promotion exercises, assuring that FAAN would continue to comply with the prescribed requirements.
The managing director noted that aviation operations were guided by international standards, including those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which set requirements for personnel qualifications and operational performance.
She disclosed that FAAN managed 22 airports and provided management services for about six others on behalf of state governments and private-sector interests.
According to her, passenger traffic and operational activities are concentrated in a few airports, making staff deployment dependent on specific operational needs.
She identified aviation security and fire and rescue services as areas requiring additional personnel, explaining that recruitment into such specialised positions must satisfy stipulated age, medical and physical fitness requirements.
Onabanjo-Kuku maintained that FAAN would continue to balance the technical demands of airport operations with the need for equitable representation and 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 the FAAN managing director paid her a courtesy visit following the interactive session.
She said the commission was adopting a more streamlined approach to monitoring compliance by engaging directly with the heads of government institutions.
According to her, the interactive sessions were designed to ensure that agency leaders understood the commission’s expectations and personally committed to implementing the required standards.
The FCC chairman said direct engagement with agency heads would strengthen accountability, improve communication and eliminate uncertainty surrounding compliance procedures.
She expressed optimism that sustained cooperation between the commission and federal institutions would improve adherence to the Federal Character principle and strengthen institutional relationships.
The engagement underscored the shared commitment of the FCC and FAAN to promoting fairness, professional excellence and equitable representation in Nigeria’s federal public service.
