About 300 employees of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) may be affected by an upcoming right-placement reorganisation as the agency moves to address long-standing concerns over uneven staff deployment and career progression.
The PUNCH reported FAAN as saying that the exercise would be conducted with professionalism and transparency, emphasising that recruitment, placement and progression within the authority are guided by regulations that promote fairness and institutional efficiency. The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Henry Agbebire, said the Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, had authorised an internal review “to strengthen clarity and ensure uniform application of policies”.The intervention follows years of internal complaints over alleged irregular recruitment and selective upgrading of employees under previous administrations. A senior management official, who spoke anonymously, said the review covers recruitment exercises conducted between 2015 and 2017, as well as the controversial 2019 intake known as the “AFAKA Boys”, overseen by former aviation minister, Mr. Hadi Sirika.
According to the source, the 2019 recruitment—meant strictly for Levels 4 and 6—allegedly involved applicants with higher qualifications presenting lower certificates to secure employment. Many were later upgraded within months, while others with similar qualifications “who know no one in the system” were overlooked. The disparity, he said, prompted management to initiate a verification exercise.
The source claimed some of the 2019 recruits had risen from Levels 4 and 6 to Levels 9 and 10 within a short period. A similar pattern reportedly occurred during the 2015–2017 intakes, each of which involved approximately 300 recruits.
FAAN said employees most likely to be affected by the reorganisation include staff of the Fire Service, Aviation Security and other critical units. It clarified that the authority does not compel applicants to alter or suppress qualifications, noting that recruitment is based solely on advertised positions and voluntary submissions.
Mr. Agbebire said the review aims to reinforce confidence in the rules that govern staff progression. “This review is aimed at strengthening clarity, ensuring uniform application of policies, and reinforcing confidence in the systems that govern staff progression,” he said. He added that any required policy adjustments would be made in accordance with public-service standards.
He also stressed that the management condemns misconduct, including harassment, intimidation and abuse of office. The reorganisation may result in some senior staff being moved to lower cadres in a broad effort to regularise placements across the authority.
