Yadudu vows to resolve FAAN, workers’ spat

• Says agency’s revenue improving
• Don’t service $500 million Chinese loan-Union

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu has assured that all the problems bedeviling the agency occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic that seriously dwindled its revenue would be resolved.

He explained that the delay in salary was caused by paucity of funds occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, but admitted that FAAN revenue was gradually improving.

He made clarifications on the Chinese loans, pointing out that no former Managing Director of FAAN signed any pact to collect the Chinese loan abi nitio, stating that the authority was not mandated to servicing the loan.

Yadudu gave the assurance at a town hall meeting he held with workers and various aviation unions’ comprising representatives of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) at Ilorin Airport on Tuesday in Ilorin, Kwara State.

He explained that the delay in salary was caused by paucity of funds occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, but admitted that FAAN’s revenue is gradually improving. He noted that the statutory 13 month salary would be paid going by the commitment of the authority.

Among other promises he made to the workers were plans to train and retrain them which he said would start in January 2021.

He offered automatic employment to two casual workers that have spent 13 and 15 years respectively, disclosing that their employment letters would be ready next week with plan for them to resume in January 2021.

He admitted acute shortage of manpower in some departments and promised that there would be equitable distribution of staff to curb the problem.

Yadudu stated that fresh employment would not solve the problem, but rather, staff deployment would be solution to redressing the situation.

The FAAN boss congratulated and appreciated staff for working assiduously during the lock-down and beyond.

He charged the workers to be vigilant and protect all FAAN facilities, encouraging them to report any unscrupulous element who may desire to sabotage their collective efforts.

He clarified that COVID-19 allowances is only for grade level 12 and below as directed by the Head of Service. He however said management in collaboration with the unions could still make a case for grade level 13 and above to the HOS.

In his response, Chairman of ATSSSAN, FAAN, Ilorin Chapter, A.I Alonge was the first to speak. He spoke on the controversial COVID-19 allowances stressing that contrary to the general belief that only staff on grade level 12 and below are entitled to it, he said it ought to cut across all the staff in all the essential departments because they all worked assiduously during the lock-down.

He stated that workers were not comfortable with the delay of their salaries including 13^th month salaries, just as he asked for prompt payment of all outstanding allowances owed workers.

Alonge tasked FAAN management to ensure that salaries are paid on or before 25th of every month just as he charged the agency to sustain employer/employees relationship which he believed is key to organisational productivity.

On the consequential adjustments in Condition of Service (CoS) and national minimum wage, Chairman, ANAP, FAAN, Ilorin Chapter, S.U. Ugbeikwu pointed out that FAAN staff on grade level 14 and below merely feed from the crumbs of management staff and drew the attention of the Yadudu to it to ensure that all FAAN staff are treated equitably.

Ugbeikwu pleaded with the FAAN MD to ensure that N106b staff pension are remitted to PENCOM, stressing that FAAN workers are displeased over the situation.

He urged FAAN to distance itself from servicing of $500 million Chinese loan, maintaining that abi nitio the loan was not collected by FAAN and should not be serviced by FAAN, more so at a critical time like this when it is generally believed that FAAN is bankrupt.

Wole Shadare