The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has reiterated her administration’s strong focus on staff welfare, training, and business development as key pillars for driving progress in the aviation sector.
She made this known on Monday, 16 June 2025, during her opening address at the Biennial FAAN Joint Trade Unions Conference 2025, held at the Abdurahaman Danbazau Conference Centre (COCOS Hotel), Correctional Services, Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, Abuja.
Mrs. Kuku urged aviation stakeholders to prioritise investment in project development in order to enhance bankability and attract private investors. She emphasised the need for comprehensive market studies, feasibility assessments, and the development of strong business cases to ensure sustainable and data-backed sector growth.
She also highlighted the critical role of cargo operations, noting that while FAAN has already established the Directorate of Cargo Development and Services, further support and data-driven studies are required to inspire investor confidence in cargo infrastructure.
On staff welfare, the FAAN MD reaffirmed her commitment to improving working conditions. She announced that the newly negotiated conditions of service, created in collaboration with unions, are now being prepared for submission to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Mrs. Kuku also revealed that the agency is reassessing its staff training and international travel budgets to ensure broader, more inclusive access for employees.
Addressing healthcare concerns, she acknowledged current gaps in medical facilities and disclosed that FAAN is exploring partnerships to enhance healthcare access for staff. Furthermore, she announced plans to procure operational vehicles for airports and renovate staff quarters to improve living conditions across the network.
On airport management and accountability, she underscored the need to implement Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for airport managers and department heads to drive performance and ensure transparency.
She extended appreciation to the aviation unions—NUATE, ATSSSAN, and ANAP—for their cooperation and commitment to dialogue. Mrs. Kuku urged conference delegates to leverage the gathering as a strategic platform for charting a progressive course for the sector.
“This conference serves as a pivotal platform to address our concerns. 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,” she said.
Reiterating FAAN’s openness to constructive engagement, she assured union representatives that management is committed to honest dialogue and practical solutions to workplace challenges.
“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. Let us work together to protect jobs, enhance conditions of service, and strengthen the sector, not through conflict, but through cooperation,” she concluded.
