Unions to tackle recruitment racketeering in FAAN

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

Leaders of some aviation unions in the country are billed for Kaduna venue of the alleged illegal recruitment of fire safety and security this week to monitor the exercise.

Last week, the National Union of Air Transport Employees NUATE in a petition to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) raised an alarm over what it called illegal recruitment of fire safety and security said it was not in line with the civil service and conditions of service rules. It then called for an end to the exercise.

But investigation has shown that after a marathon meeting with the managing director of FAAN last week in Lagos, it was agreed among the union leaders that there was a need to see things for themselves following which they arrived at going to Kaduna, venue of recruitment.

The unions have alleged that politicians have hijacked the exercise with the recruitment of over 300 unqualified candidates by imposing them on the panel of recruitment in Kaduna.

According to the investigation, catchment areas across the country for the recruitment exercise were not followed as candidates travelled from Lagos to Kaduna for the exercise which the unions were not happy with.

An informed source said that it was the view of the unions that the exercise should be halted until identified lapses were corrected but following series of appeal, it was suggested that unions should visit the venue to see the conduct of the recruitment process

According to our sources the panel violated the rules and conditions of service for recruitment especially in the area of safety and went ahead to invite candidates numbering more than 100 believed to be above forty years of age and pregnant women pointing, out that the exercise was for fresh graduates deemed fit to handle security and fire fighting

The source also hinted that they were casual workers in the organisation that have put up almost ten years and their names were removed from being recruited.

They vowed to correct the injustice during the visit to the recruit venue in Kaduna by ensuring that all those being screened for the exercise were fit and had the medical certificate of fitness before numbers will be given to them.

The union leaders also frowned at the way non-career personnel were being employed into the agency and placed above the career civil servant from the position of general manager adding that only the position of managing director will only be accepted as the position was a political one.