Manpower development in the aviation sector: the role of FAAN

By Lawani Mikairu

IN order to allay the fears that inadequate manpower in the aviation sector may begin to take its toll on safety and security, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has intensified efforts to enhance the training of personnel in its agency. This was demonstrated recently when the Managing Director took steps to address personnel shortage in the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (ARFFS).

At the Crew Commanders/fire fighter initial/Renal course that took place recently at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, MD/CEO of FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma said officers and men of the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services of the agency will continue to receive professional training at par will global standards. He also said they will undergo overseas training programme to enhance their proficiency in firefighting at all Nigeria airports in line with recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

This efforts at training and recruitment will be better appreciated against the backdrop of  recent  investigations that say that  FAAN has 600 fire fighters  as opposed to the 1,500 prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO).The shortfall of 900 workers in the critical  department had generated concerns in the industry.

The current planned concession of some of the airports, which is being driven passionately by the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, will also boost the revenue of the FAAN and consequently enhance the ability of the agency to develop manpower. The Managing Director of  FAAN, Engr Saleh Dunoma was quoted as saying the agency has created conducive and attractive business environment in most major airports in the country that will attract investors to partner with FAAN to do business at the airports.

Engr Dunoma who made this assertion in Lagos said “It is easy to see why several factors work in our favour. FAAN offers an array of irresistible incentives and doing business with us has become a lot easier. We are investing heavily in the renewal and expansion of infrastructure at our airports with five international buildings nearing completion at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu airports.

In order to boost the morale of staff and enhance the manpower growth of the agency, Dunoma affirmed that in spite of the daunting economy in the aviation sector, the management of FAAN has been able to keep the welfare of staff on its front burner while maintaining a culture of prompt payment of staff salaries even in the face of dwindling revenues.

The FAAN Boss made the affirmation at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state. He said “FAAN has continued to show commitment to staff career development by releasing the result of the 2016 promotional exercises for junior and senior staff of FAAN while those of Grade Level 14-16 have been forwarded for ministerial approval.”

He also explained that payments of furniture grant to staff and gratuity to former workers of FAAN have continued while payments of outstanding staff claims were on going. He however said in order to continue with the sustainability of staff welfare, the unions needed to facilitate a rancour free atmosphere that will be germane to industrial growth.

Talking about the concession, Sirika said; “We must concession. No going back. I cannot think of any other way. We cannot grow with present state of our airports .The atmosphere within which these airports  is not ideal. Today, we have the capacity for 15 million passengers annually and we should within five years have between70 to 100 million passengers annually if the right things are put in place.”

The minister listed the four major airports that will be concessioned by the Federal Government to include the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikwe Airport,NAA, Abuja, Port Harcourt Airport,PHA, and Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, MAKA, Kano . He said the protest by aviation unions against the planned concession was done due to lack of information and the misconception that these airports would be privatised and sold to private individuals.

Sirika added that Nigeria is an important country for air transport in view of her huge market. According to him, “We think we are in the right direction and the decision we have taken to concession the four airports is the right step for the industry and for the country”. Concessioning of these airports, he contended, would bring about effective and efficient management of the facilities and that the Federal Government will maintain its ownership.

On why the Federal Government must concession airports, the Minister cited Dubai Airports, which according to him have shopping malls, spar and other super markets but lamented that in Nigeria airport terminals, “what passengers see are cigarette and liquor shops. The present government will not allow the terminals to remain like that.”

He said reports have shown that 40 per cent of passengers prefer to pass through airport terminals with excellent facilities, adding that duty free in Dubai is about $1.2 billion, a situation not obtainable in Nigeria.

Viable airports in the country will enable the aviation agencies carry out more manpower development in the aviation sector as they will have increase revenue from  charges and taxes from services they render at the various airports.

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