FAAN pensioners poise for protest over neglect

*We are ready to meet with them – Kuku

BY CHUKWUEMEKA IWELUNMO

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch, says pensioners of the organisation across the country will as from February 15, 2025 embark on nationwide protest over what it called inability of the management to dialogue with the NUP.

Speaking at their first general meeting held at the local airport, Ikeja, the general secretary of NUP FAAN branch, Comrade Emeka Njoku decried inability of the new FAAN management to meet with them over challenges being faced by the pensioners.

Addressing over 1000 pensioners Tuesday, Comrade Njoku said, medical facilities as granted in the past years were not being enjoyed by FAAN pensioners as it was not functioning adding, that the issue of minimum wage as it concerned them has not been addressed as the management failed to respond to their correspondence for audience.

“We have written to FAAN Management to call for meetings to discuss all these outstanding isuues which they have not done. We are watching and this year, we will not tolerate such neglect from FAAN Management. We have to correct the neglect and anomalies”

On minimum wage, Comrade Njoku said it ought be applied to pensioners as N32,000 was granted to FAAN pensioners after the approval of minimum wage adding, that they had agreement with FAAN management since 2002 which has been applied by previous management that whenever there was salary increase, pension should also be increased.

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Njoku said, the pensioners have been enjoying the agreement but that the present management of FAAN has not done anything He however stated that he learned that request has been sent to Income and Wages seeking for approval in terms of percentage

Njoku said, FAAN management has failed to comply to their request on what platform used for pensioners in the organisation stressing that they ought to know their entitlement

“Previous management will call us and present the proposal to us and examine if it corresponds with the salary in the 2002 agreement. But they have ignored our letter, kept quiet.

“From now till 15th of this month, if they fail to call us for a meeting, we will mobilise our members throughout the country for a protest. They are meeting with other unions discussing workers welfare. Even the Director of Human Resources has not called us for dialogue”

But the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, in a telephone told our correspondent that she recieved the pensioners’ letter in October and slated them for a meeting December 19, 2024, following another correspondence.

Mrs Kuku said, she was ready and available to meet them as she meets people without descimination Tuesdays and Thursdays.