FAAN Pensioners’ Struggle for Recognition and Dignity

As the clock ticks towards February 15, 2025, a wave of discontent brews among pensioners of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Their voices, once vibrant in the aviation industry, now echo in frustration over what they describe as “neglect” by the current FAAN management. The Federal Parastatal and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEEPPPA) FAAN branch, has vowed to take to the streets in a nationwide protest, a move that brings to the fore years of unfulfilled promises and silent suffering.

This is not the first time FAAN pensioners have had to remind the system of their existence. Looking back, the struggle for fair treatment has been a recurring battle—one that speaks to a broader issue of pension management in Nigeria. The promises made in the past, the agreements signed, and the expectations set have not always translated into tangible benefits for retirees.

At their first general meeting of the year in Ikeja, Comrade Emeka Njoku, the General Secretary of the union, painted a picture of unaddressed grievances: non-functional medical facilities, a lack of dialogue, and the non-implementation of minimum wage adjustments. These issues, according to Njoku, have lingered despite multiple letters to FAAN management. The pensioners demand that the 2002 agreement—where salary increases automatically triggered corresponding pension adjustments—be honored, just as previous administrations had done.

For many of these retirees, the stakes are high. After dedicating decades to the aviation sector, they find themselves battling for the most basic entitlements: healthcare, financial security, and dignity in retirement. The absence of a structured engagement process has further deepened their frustrations, leaving them with no option but to prepare for a showdown.

However, FAAN’s Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has extended an olive branch, asserting that she is open to dialogue. She noted that the pensioners had been scheduled for a meeting on December 19, 2024, following their latest correspondence. Her assurance that she remains accessible every Tuesday and Thursday for discussions could offer a pathway to resolution—if followed through with decisive action.

The coming days will determine whether FAAN pensioners’ long-standing grievances will finally be addressed or if history will once again repeat itself, with retirees marching under the scorching sun, demanding the justice they deserve. One thing remains clear: they are no longer willing to be ignored.