Aviation unions’ members, have bemoaned the federal government’s plan to cede the majority share of the Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airline.
This was even as the unions kicked against proposed demolition of the offices of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), in Lagos state.
The unions under various umbrella, yesterday, also vowed to resist the moves by the government to sell off the Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano international airports
LEADERSHIP reports that the minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika recently hinted at the demolition of the offices for the planned Aerotropolis (Airport City), one of the projects under the aviation roadmap.
The protesting aviation union members in their number were seen displaying placards after a meeting which resolved to reject the proposed demolition.
All these plans have have not gone well with aviation union members which led to the meetings of various unions in the aviation industry held within the MMA, Ikeja.
The union, said, “we wish to seize this opportunity to join other aviation stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to condemn in strong terms the intention of the Ministry of Aviation to cede majority shareholding in the national carrier, Nigeria Air, to Ethiopian Airlines. This intention is perplexingly self-defeating and a complete negation of all the objectives earlier canvassed for the setting up of the national carrier and we have no choice than to call for the outright cancellation of the plan.
“What we want is a national carrier that will, through hard work, surpass Ethiopian Airlines and compete with other global airlines, and not a shameful appendage of Ethiopian airlines. If Nigeria wishes to join forces with Ethiopia to form a mega African carrier, that would be a noble thing. But then, the two parties should determine the form of partnership in a manner befitting our status, that enhances attainment of our civil aviation objectives and goals, and which does credit to our national pride.
“The decision to gift our Bilateral Air Services Agreements to Ethiopian Airlines for a mere five per cent shareholding in our national carrier beats all reasoning and must be rescinded without argument. The foregoing give fillip to our firm resolve to defend the rights and interest of our members, safeguard our industry from being led into retrogression, protect national interest against predatory and annihilating tendencies, and ultimately bring about much desirable sanity in our national life.
“To this end, the airports concessions must be subjected to thorough scrutiny to ensure that all valid interests are protected and that the cause of the nation is properly served. The national carrier must be steered away from stunted growth.
“The proposed national hangar should integrate the Akwa Ibom MRO that has already reached advanced stage, together with other smaller MROs, rather than another grandiose, wasteful startup which has potential for capital flight and emasculation of other outfits. Same with other aspects of the Aviation Road Map.”
The unions unanimously reject the aviation Minister’s proposed demolition plan and the planned concession of major airports. Placards with various inscriptions were displayed during the protest.
“Call on the minister of Aviation to put his plan to demolish the headquarters of FAAN, NAMA, and NCAA in Lagos on hold pending proper evaluation, planning and better timing. We consider that this plan, in the name of the so called aerotropolis, is ill intended, ill advised, and wrongly timed.
“We hereby serve notice that any attempt to demolish any of these buildings at this time will be met with immediate action of cessation of work at all airports in Nigeria accompanied by public demonstrations nationwide.”
Speaking on the airports concessioning, the union said, “for the purpose of today’s meeting, and since this is a meeting of FAAN workers and pensioners, our focus shall be on Airports Concessioning.
Of all the projects under the Aviation Road Map, our Unions have been most vocal over airports concessioning. This should not be surprising considering the potential negative impact on the large staff and pensioner strengths of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the agency undertaking the concession.
Ever since the decision to concession the four most major airports, our Unions have been strongly opposed to the idea. And when the Outline Business case was made open to the public, we have been firm and vehement in our opposition to the type of concessioning envisioned by the Transaction Adviser, for good reason. We unearthed several booby traps, outright falsehoods and deliberate manipulation of facts to skew the transaction against the interest of Nigeria, which we communicated to the Minister and other arms of government.”
The unions, however, called on the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to stop the Aviation Road Map over its implications on the nation’s economy
According to the union, other alternative is to court the angst of Nigerians and sow the seeds of a revolution of a proportion never before witnessed.
He said, “All in all, the ball is now in the court of the federal Executive Council to make or mar. It is in the hands of FEC to dismantle the anti-Nigeria behemoth called aviation road map. The alternative is to court the angst of Nigerians and sow the seeds of a revolution of a proportion never before witnessed. We are convinced that the Council, being a body of noble Nigerians will do the right thing and call the Minister of Aviation to order.
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