The Federal Character Commission (FCC) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have pledged to strengthen collaboration to ensure equitable representation in recruitment, promotion and staff deployment across the aviation agency without compromising professional competence and safety standards.
The commitment was made on Tuesday during 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 focused on assessing FAAN’s compliance with the Federal Character principle, identifying challenges and developing practical measures to promote fairness and inclusivity in the federal public service.
Speaking at the session, Eze stressed the need for federal institutions to provide qualified Nigerians from all parts of the country with equitable opportunities to contribute to national development.

He maintained that merit and fairness were not mutually exclusive, arguing that transparent employment practices could promote professional excellence while ensuring that the country’s diversity was reflected in the workforce.
“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, the Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State, explained that the engagement was designed to review existing practices, address areas of concern and strengthen cooperation between FAAN and the commission.
He urged the aviation 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.

The committee chairman expressed optimism that the engagement would produce measurable commitments and reinforce the constitutional responsibility of federal institutions to uphold the Federal Character principle.
Responding, FAAN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to the principle but emphasised the specialised requirements of the aviation industry.

She explained that aviation operations demanded strict adherence to professional qualifications, technical competence and internationally recognised safety standards, which must be considered alongside the need for equitable representation.
Onabanjo-Kuku 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.

She also stated that, to the best of her knowledge, the authority had not received any letter from the FCC alleging non-compliance with the Federal Character principle.
According to her, FAAN had diligently undertaken its processes while remaining committed to meeting the applicable requirements.

The managing director welcomed further guidance from the commission on procedures for notifying it of recruitment and promotion exercises, assuring that the authority would continue to observe the prescribed guidelines.
She explained that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, alongside other applicable requirements, informed personnel qualifications and operational needs within the aviation sector.

According to Onabanjo-Kuku, 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 the specific needs and operational demands of individual locations.

The FAAN chief executive identified aviation security and fire and rescue services as areas requiring additional personnel, stressing that recruitment into such specialised positions must take account of prescribed age, health and physical fitness requirements.
She maintained that the authority would continue to balance the technical demands of aviation operations with its responsibility to promote equitable representation and comply with Federal Character guidelines.

In a related development, the Executive Chairman of the FCC, 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 after the interactive session.

She said the commission was adopting a more streamlined approach to compliance, with greater emphasis on direct engagement with heads of government institutions to ensure that they understood and accepted responsibility for implementing the Federal Character principle.
According to her, the interactive sessions were intended to clarify the commission’s expectations and encourage agency heads to make personal commitments to compliance.

The FCC chairman stressed that direct engagement with institutional leaders was necessary to strengthen accountability and eliminate uncertainty over compliance procedures.
She expressed optimism that sustained cooperation between the commission and federal agencies would improve institutional relations and strengthen adherence to the constitutional provisions governing equitable representation in public service.

The engagement highlighted the need for closer coordination between the FCC and federal institutions to ensure that recruitment, promotion and staff deployment reflect Nigeria’s diversity while preserving the professional standards required for effective public service delivery.