Aviation unions warn against secrecy in airport concession without workers 

Sade Williams/Business a.m.

Aviation unions in Nigeria, including Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), have cautioned the federal government against plans to sideline workers in its new moves to concession some airports.

The unions accused the federal government of already having “draft agreement documents including Full Business Case of 50 years and 80 years agreement, without their inputs,” cautioning that airports concession should not be shrouded in secrecy.

At a congress held recently at FAAN Freedom Square, the workers locked all gates leading to FAAN headquarters in protest as  other directors were denied access into their offices.

Addressing the workers, Ben Nnabue, president of NUATE, said government has decided to concession the airports ‘in a manner that was not known to them’, accusing Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, of  reneging on his promise to involve the workers in all stages of the concession process.

“Posterity will not forgive them if they go to represent FAAN and sell FAAN out without calling stakeholders. There is no information that is hidden forever. Government wants to adopt a Full Business Case without the workers’ inputs. There must be dialogue with workers regarding any concession,” he said.

The NUATE president, who stated that Keyamo had earlier assured them that labour issues will be discussed with the unions, said the documents being circulated showed an already perfected plan, including legal matters.

“They didn’t discuss with us and they are writing about issues affecting our members,” he alleged.

Adedayo Alale, president of ANAP, alleged that the process of concessioning of Enugu airport was almost concluded while that of Port Harcourt and Kano were being discussed.

Also speaking at the congress, John Ogbe, third National President of ATSSSAN, John Ogbe however said  the workers are not against concession but were against concession but should go through a transparent process.

Ogbe noted that under the last administration, the unions had the opportunity to study the Outline Business Case, saying that what they are currently planning is an ‘unsolicited’ Outline Business Case.