The Federal Character Commission and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria have pledged to strengthen collaboration to promote fairness, inclusivity and compliance with the federal character principle in recruitment, promotion and staff deployment.
The commitment was made on Tuesday during an interactive session between the FCC Committee on Works, Transport and Aviation, chaired by Peter Eze, and FAAN management at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Eze said federal institutions must ensure that qualified Nigerians from all parts of the country have equitable opportunities to contribute to national development.
He stressed that the federal character principle should not undermine merit, noting that professional competence and equitable representation could be achieved simultaneously.
“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,” Eze said.
The federal commissioner representing Enugu State said the engagement was designed to assess FAAN’s workforce practices, identify challenges and develop practical measures to improve compliance with federal character guidelines.
He urged the authority to demonstrate its commitment to equitable opportunities beyond submitting compliance documents.
“Look beyond compliance documents and demonstrate a clear commitment to equitable opportunities. A workforce that reflects the country’s diversity would strengthen public confidence and contribute to national development”, Eze said.
Responding, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FAAN, Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to the federal character principle while emphasising the importance of maintaining professional standards in the aviation sector.
She said 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 added that, to the best of her knowledge, FAAN had not received any letter from the commission alleging non-compliance with the principle.
She welcomed further guidance from the FCC on procedures for notifying the commission about recruitment and promotion exercises, assuring that the authority would continue to adhere to the prescribed guidelines.
The managing director explained that staff deployment was influenced by operational demands and international aviation standards, including those set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
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 said passenger traffic and operational activities were concentrated at a few airports, making staff deployment dependent on specific operational requirements.
Onabanjo-Kuku identified aviation security and fire and rescue services as areas requiring additional personnel, noting that recruitment into the specialised roles must take into account age, health and physical fitness requirements.
In a related development, the Executive Chairman of the FCC, Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, assured FAAN of the commission’s readiness to strengthen its working relationship with federal agencies.
Omidiran gave the assurance when the FAAN managing director paid her a courtesy visit after the interactive session.
She said the commission was adopting a more streamlined approach to compliance through direct engagement with the heads of government institutions.
She expressed optimism that sustained engagement would strengthen accountability, improve relations between the commission and federal institutions, and promote adherence to the federal character principle.
Solomon Odeniyi is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over six years of professional experience. He has covered key national beats including the judiciary, military, and police, and currently reports on anti-corruption and related issues. Solomon’s work reflects a strong commitment to development-oriented reporting, public interest journalism, and accountability.
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