By Chinelo Obogo
The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) have alleged that the federal government plans to sideline some of the current staff in the Federal Airport of Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who are due for promotion to the position of general managers and hire external managers instead.
In a letter addressed to the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku and signed by the branch secretary of ATSSSAN, John Ogbe, NUATE secretary, John Agbor and ANAP secretary, A.M Jimoh, the unions expressed fears that if this planned recruitment is carried out, members of staff of the agency may lose their jobs and the sidelined staff might feel undervalued which would impact overall productivity.
“The attention of the unions has been drawn to the attempt by the government to employ General Managers from outside to fill in the vacant positions in FAAN> We want to use this medium top advise the management to urgently discourage the government against the unfair practice. It is on record that examinations for promotion into managerial positions were recently conducted and officers who sat for that exam are still awaiting the outcome, therefore, it would be an unfair labour practice for the government to appoint an outsider into such positions.
“Consequently, we are constrained to state that we shall not hesitate to take appropriate action including immediate industrial action if such employment is carried out. Furthermore, we urge the management to intervene in the matter in order to avoid industrial dispute within FAAN,” the unions said.