FAAN is conducting a review of recruitments found to be irregular

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has begun a comprehensive review of alleged irregular recruitments carried out in recent months, signalling a renewed effort to strengthen transparency, accountability and professionalism within the agency. The decision follows rising concerns about the influx of personnel reportedly employed without adherence to due process, statutory approval or alignment with the organisation’s manpower needs. FAAN’s management said the review aims to verify the legitimacy of recent appointments, streamline staffing levels and ensure that only properly recruited and qualified individuals remain on the authority’s payroll.

According to senior officials, the agency’s leadership initiated the review after detecting discrepancies in documentation, recruitment timelines, qualification standards and departmental placement of several newly engaged workers. These inconsistencies raised red flags and prompted an internal audit to determine whether recruitment procedures were bypassed or manipulated. The review also includes a broader assessment of staffing requirements, job duplication, and the impact of the irregular hires on FAAN’s operational efficiency and financial obligations.

Management said the exercise is not targeted at any individual or group but is part of a wider institutional reform aimed at restoring credibility to FAAN’s human resource processes. The authority stressed that recruitment into such a critical aviation body must strictly follow federal guidelines, including advertisement of vacancies, screening of applicants, merit-based selection and approval by relevant oversight authorities. FAAN noted that any deviation from these processes undermines organisational integrity, contributes to wage inflation and potentially threatens safety operations within airports.

The review is being led by a committee composed of representatives from human resources, audit, legal and operations departments. Their mandate includes verifying employment letters, cross-checking hiring approvals, evaluating qualifications and ensuring that staff placements match their skills and experience. The committee is also examining whether some individuals were employed through backdoor arrangements or political influence—a recurring issue in Nigerian public-sector agencies. Early findings reportedly show numerous cases where positions were filled without vacancy declarations, creating concerns about redundancy and payroll burden.

Industry observers say the review is a positive step for an agency that oversees the nation’s most critical aviation infrastructure. They argue that irregular recruitment compromises professionalism and creates room for inefficiency at airports, where safety and service standards must remain consistently high. Aviation experts also note that FAAN’s workforce must be composed of rigorously vetted and well-trained personnel, especially in technical and security-sensitive areas. Allowing unchecked hiring can lead to competence gaps, operational errors and weakened oversight within the air transport system.

FAAN’s leadership has reassured legitimate employees that the exercise is not intended to disrupt operations but to safeguard the integrity of the organisation. They emphasised that genuine staff with verifiable recruitment records will not be affected. However, those whose employment cannot be substantiated may face termination or redeployment, depending on the nature of the irregularity discovered. The agency also plans to introduce stricter controls to prevent recurrence, including automated recruitment processes, digital record-keeping and mandatory cross-checking with federal oversight bodies.

The restructuring effort is happening at a time when FAAN is undergoing broader reforms aimed at boosting revenue, modernising airport services and aligning with global aviation best practices. The authority has been working to upgrade airport facilities, improve navigation and safety systems, and strengthen commercial operations to reduce its reliance on federal subventions. Officials believe that a disciplined, well-structured workforce is essential to achieving these reform goals.

In addition to the recruitment review, FAAN is expected to tighten monitoring of staff performance, training compliance and departmental accountability. The agency plans to roll out capacity-building programmes to enhance employee skills in operations, customer service, engineering, security and financial management. These initiatives are part of a long-term strategy to create a more efficient, competent and competitive workforce capable of supporting Nigeria’s growing aviation sector.

Reactions to the ongoing review have been mixed. Some staff unions have called for transparency in the process, warning that it must not be used to victimise workers or settle internal disputes. They insist that the review should follow clear guidelines and allow affected employees to present documents defending their employment status. Others, however, welcome the initiative, saying it is long overdue and necessary to curb the growing trend of indiscriminate recruitment that burdens the system and sidelines qualified applicants.

Aviation stakeholders also believe that FAAN’s action could set an important precedent for other agencies across the sector, where concerns about irregular appointments have persisted for years. They argue that strengthening human resource integrity is crucial not only for organisational performance but also for boosting investor confidence and improving Nigeria’s international aviation ratings.

As the review progresses, FAAN has pledged to communicate findings and outcomes in a transparent manner while ensuring that airport operations across the country remain uninterrupted. The authority maintains that the goal is to build a more disciplined, merit-driven institution that can effectively meet the demands of Nigeria’s expanding aviation industry.

 

With expectations rising for improved services, modern infrastructure and stronger regulatory compliance, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how FAAN manages this critical internal exercise. The results are likely to influence the agency’s future staffing framework, operational capacity and overall reputation within the aviation sector.