FAAN Boss Champions Staff Welfare, Training, Cargo Development at Joint Trade Unions Conference
…Kuku calls for investment in data-driven aviation projects, pledges improved healthcare and living conditions for staff
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, has reaffirmed her administration’s unwavering commitment to staff welfare, capacity building, and strategic business development in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Mrs Kuku made these remarks on Monday, 16th June 2025, while delivering her keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Biennial FAAN Joint Trade Unions Conference, held at the Abdurahaman Dambazau Conference Centre, COCOS Hotel, Correctional Services, Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, Abuja.
In a passionate and forward-looking address, the FAAN MD urged stakeholders to prioritise investment in project development, underscoring the need for robust market research, feasibility studies, and strong business cases to boost the bankability of aviation initiatives.
She particularly highlighted the untapped potential in cargo operations and the necessity for evidence-based investments that inspire investor confidence.
“Investment requires demonstrable returns supported by credible data,” Kuku stressed, noting that although FAAN has already created a Directorate of Cargo Development and Services, more needs to be done in terms of support and empirical studies to ensure sustainable growth in cargo handling across Nigerian airports.
On the welfare front, Mrs Kuku gave assurances that FAAN is actively working to improve staff conditions. She revealed that a newly negotiated conditions of service document – developed collaboratively with the unions – is in its final stages and ready for presentation to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Furthermore, she announced ongoing efforts to expand staff training and streamline international travel opportunities to accommodate a broader cross-section of employees.
The FAAN MD did not shy away from addressing critical concerns regarding medical care. She acknowledged the inadequacies in the current medical facilities and disclosed that FAAN is exploring partnerships aimed at enhancing healthcare access for all employees.
In addition, she unveiled plans to procure new operational vehicles for airport use and renovate staff quarters across the country to ensure dignified living conditions for workers.
Speaking on operational standards, Kuku underscored the importance of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in ensuring accountability and efficiency among airport managers and departmental heads, aligning with global best practices.
Mrs Kuku commended the aviation unions – namely, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) – for their steadfast cooperation.
She urged delegates to approach the conference as a strategic platform to develop pragmatic solutions for the advancement of the aviation sector.
“This conference serves as a pivotal platform to address our concerns,” she said. “By championing just culture, which emphasises fairness and accountability in safety practices, and just transition, which supports equitable shifts toward sustainable aviation, stakeholders can collectively drive meaningful change.”
Reiterating her administration’s openness to dialogue and inclusive governance, Mrs Kuku assured union representatives of management’s willingness to engage in honest conversations and seek practical solutions to the challenges facing FAAN staff.
“I urge you, dear union delegates, to utilise this conference to strategise with foresight, engage with purpose, and emerge with resolutions that reflect both the aspirations of your members and the realities of our shared environment,” she concluded. “Let us work together to protect jobs, enhance conditions of service, and strengthen the sector – not through conflict, but through cooperation.”
