FG Concessions Enugu Airport For 80 Years, Aviation Unions Cry Out

Labour unions in the nation’s aviation sector have raised the alarm that the federal government is planning to Concession the Enugu International Airport for 80 Years.

The unions who raised the alarm on Tuesday, during the congress where all FAAN offices and gates were locked and workers not allowed in, condemned the draft agreement documents being paraded for the concession of some airports in the country without their input.

The unions, which comprised the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), condemned the concession documents at the Congress held today at FAAN Freedom Square.

However, speaking to the workers, the President of NUATE, Comrade Ben Nnabue, said the unions had learnt that the government was going ahead to concession some airports in a manner that was not known to any of them.

He said the minister had told them that he was not going into concessions but that the unions were surprised to see documents on concessions from the ministry.

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Nnabue said the unions have lost confidence in the management of the agencies attending meetings with the minister.

“Posterity will not forgive them if they go to represent FAAN and sell FAAN out without calling stakeholders. No information is hidden forever.”

Nnabue said in the document that was paraded had in its Full Business Case 50 years and in the agreement 80 years

Nnabue queried whether the concessionaires were buying the land or concessioning adding that management concession was for only five years saying he has never seen any agreement of 80 years

The NUATE president stated that Festus Keyamo had earlier told them that labour issues would be discussed with the unions adding that in the documents being circulated had written legal issues “ They didn’t discuss with us and they are writing issues affecting our members”

Also speaking, the president of ANAP Comrade Adedayo Alale, said the minister told all the union leaders that all labour issues would be resolved before the concession

Alale said the process of concessions of Enugu airport was almost concluded, while that of Port Harcourt and Kano had also been planned.

Also speaking at the congress, the 3rd National President of ATSSSAN, Comrade John Ogbe, said no union or worker was afraid of concession but were against concession through the back door, not transparent and non-inclusive, adding that aviation workers were critical stakeholders and must be carried along.

Ogbe noted that in the last plan, the unions had the opportunity to study the Outline Business Case, saying that what they witnessed recently were unsolicited Outline Business Cases.

He said the government wanted to adopt a Full Business Case without the workers’ input and urged the government to dialogue with workers regarding concessions.

At the end of the Congress, the unions resolved that the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage must be implemented by next month.

They also resolved that all issues concerning Conditions of Service must be within the next two months, and necessary approval must be given while the issue of concession should be transparent.