Workers protest planned concession of four airports

Air transport workers under the aegis of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and  the National Union of Pensioners (NUP) today took to the street to protest the concessioning of the four major airport terminals. Their protest caused traffic gridlock along the roads leading to Ikeja and Oshodi. The protest was peaceful.

 

Many of the protesters were seen singing and trekking from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to the General Aviation Terminal also known as Terminal 1 and to the international terminal, other workers  who could not trek were seen at the back of the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN)tractor  also singing solidarity songs.

 

The protesting workers carried placards with inscriptions, “FAAN must survive despite its many enemies, airport  concession is economic terrorism”, “Our local airports cannot be sold, “FAAN workers say no to concession of  airport”, “airport concession is economic sabotage “

It was learnt that the protest took place simultaneously at Nnamdi Azikwe Airport (NAA),Abuja, Port- Harcourt Airport and Mallam Aminu Kano Airport.

 

In Lagos, the gates leading to FAAN offices were shut to ensure that workers comply with the directive of the union.

 

Jointly speaking at the Freedom Square, where the workers assembled for the protest, the Acting General Secretary, Olayinka Abioye and General Secretary, ATSSSAN, Francis Akinjole ,said that the workers would resist any attempt by the government to concession the four major, adding that the unions are aware that some  cartel  are already coming forward to ‘buy’ the viable airports.

 

They argued that that the unions cannot mortgage the destiny of over 5,000 workers of FAAN into selfish hands of few political cartel or individual concessionaire stay clear of this unacceptable deal.

 

They further stated that the uncontrolled employment and improper placement of certain category of staff without recourse to the Federal Character and Public Service Rule is a ploy to render FAAN insolvent for them to acquire.

 

The protest is coming few days after the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika assured Nigerians that their interest would not be jeopardized in the resolve to concession some of the nation’s airports.

 

He said that the decision to concession the airports was borne out of its desire for effective and efficient management of the airports and adequate utilization of the abundant skilled manpower in the Aviation sector.