The 725 candidates who in 2015 concluded the interview process for employment by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria but are yet to receive their letters of employment have petitioned the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
In a letter dated April 9, 2016, the self-styled Short-listed Candidates, FAAN Recruitment Exercise 2015, expressed surprise that almost one year after they were told to await invitation for them to present their documents, FAAN was yet to say a word on the issue.
According to the candidates, the process for the employment, which began in February 2015 with a publication from the Authority inviting applications from interested candidates, was concluded in March, 2015 after the recruitment test and interview was successfully held across various centres in Nigeria.
According to the candidates, in May, 2015, a list of successful candidates was first published on the official recruitment of FAAN, website www.faanrecruitment.com, and in some national dailies with an accompanying message stating: “All selected candidates will be notified of the dates to present themselves for documentation and further processing at the Human Resources Department, FAAN Headquarters, Lagos through publications in the national newspapers and on the website.”
The candidates said they consulted with the Federal Character Commission and confirmed that a Certificate of Compliance had been issued to FAAN by the Commission, which validates the recruitment process satisfying the position and provision of the constitution governing recruitment exercises by Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The law states: “A Certificate of Compliance (with the FCC principles/guidelines) shall be issued as final authorisation for the release of letters of appointment to successful candidates by the recruiting MDA (No MDA shall issue Letters of Appointment to candidates without this Certificate).”
This they allows a period of three months as ultimatum for the issuance of appointment letters to successful candidates by the agency or going back for revalidation to the FCC.
The awaiting employees said the specified period expired end of September 2015 without the issuance of appointment letters or official statement from FAAN.
They said March 2016 makes it six months after the deadline with no public explanation from the authority.
They added in a letter to The Eagle Online: “Disturbed by unpleasant rumours surrounding the outcome of the exercise and the perceived silence from the authority regarding the matter, the successful candidates have since written letters of appeal for intervention to the offices of the Honourable Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, the Honourable Minister of State for Transport, Hadi Sirika, the Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Eng. Saleh Dunoma and the Executive Chairman, Federal Character Commission Shettima Bukar-Abba.
“On a few occasions, a delegation spooled from the list of successful candidates were invited by the Authority to meet with senior officials handling the recruitment, the first of these meetings held in November 2015. Explanations offered by officials of the Authority suggested that the delay was being caused by a pending approval authorising FAAN to proceed with documentation, issuance of appointment letters, training and deployment of recruited personnel.
“This was accepted as enough assurance until recently when rumours surfaced suggesting that appointment letters were being issued secretly to candidates, some of which were not on the list published by the authority. These rumours were confirmed at the most recent meeting held at FAAN’s headquarters in Lagos between representatives of the Authority and a delegation representing the successful candidates where we were told that a number of candidates had obtained Appointment letters through the influence of some top government officials and political office holders.
“In lieu of the recent developments, the successful candidates now refute the explanation given by the Authority as shady, misleading and unacceptable as it has become clear the process is being hijacked by some powers that be. We are resolved to pursue justice by all democratic means available to us.”
The letter they wrote to Amaechi, reads in full:
Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi
The Honorable Minister,
Federal Ministry of Transportation,
2nd Floor, Annex 3, New Fed. Secretariat Complex,
Shehu Shagari Way, Central Area, P.M.B. 1136
Abuja.
From :
The Short-listed Candidates,
FAAN Recruitment Exercise 2015.
April 9, 2016.
The content of the letter is:
Sir,
REQUEST FOR URGENT INTERVENTION
We write this letter on behalf of 725 short-listed candidates of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) recruitment who emerged successful after completing the various stages of the recruitment process which began in February, 2015 and was concluded in March, 2015.
In accordance with Federal Character and transparency, the lists of successful candidates was published online on www.faanrecruitment.com and followed with a note stating that “All selected candidates will be notified of the dates to present themselves for documentation and further processing at the Human Resources Department, FAAN Headquarters, Lagos through publications in the national newspapers and on the website”. However, eleven (11) months after the recruitment exercise was concluded, there has been no official update concerning the status of the recruitment thereby leaving successful candidates at the mercies of hearsays and unpleasant rumors.
Consultations with the Federal Character Commission (FCC) confirmed that a certificate of compliance had been issued to FAAN by the Commission which validates the recruitment process satisfying the position and provision of the constitution governing such exercise which states that; “A Certificate of Compliance (with the FCC principles/guidelines) shall be issued as final authorization for the release of letters of appointment to successful candidates by the recruiting MDA (No MDA shall issue Letters of Appointment to candidates without this Certificate)” and allows a period of three (3) months as ultimatum for the issuance of appointment letters to successful candidates by the agency. With the specified period having expired as at the end of September, 2015 without the issuance of appointment letters nor official statement from FAAN, this has indeed given us cause to worry, especially as it is now close to a full year since the recruitment exercise was concluded.
In line with the restoration of transparency and due process in the civil service and other sectors of our economy by the current administration, the conduct of the recruitment exercise by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has proven beyond reasonable doubt that candidates can be selected strictly on merit and in consonance with Federal Character. Your decision to give credence to this recruitment of equity further strengthens our faith and trust in your leadership as our Honorable Minister.
We strongly believe that under your leadership and influence as the Honorable Minister of Transportation, the release of necessary funds for the documentation and training of successful candidates will receive due attention and the exercise brought to a successful conclusion. This represents the hope of 725 Nigerian youths who are eager to serve our fatherland. We thank you sir for your kind consideration and anticipated intervention.
Yours Faithfully,
FAAN Short-listed Candidates 2015.
#faanrecruitment2015
@faanrecruitment.
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