….cry foul over allege draft documents of 80-year concession
Three unions in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN today staged a forceful protest against what they allege are clandestine plans to concession key airports by the federal government.
The unions’ action, which involved locking down all Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) offices and gates at the headquarters in Lagos this morning, effectively paralyzed operations and underscored the depth of their discontent.
The aggrieved unions are, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).
The catalyst for the unions’ dramatic move was the discovery of draft concession documents, which they claim were circulated without their knowledge or input.
Addressing a packed congress at FAAN Freedom Square, NUATE National President, Comrade Ben Nnabue, voiced the unions’ collective outrage, asserting that the government appeared to be moving forward with concessions despite prior assurances to the contrary.
Nnabue pointedly questioned the discrepancy between the Minister’s public statements and the documents’ content, highlighting a perceived breach of trust.
The unions’ primary grievance centers on the lack of transparency and the perceived exclusion of critical stakeholders from the concession process.
Nnabue further raised alarm over the extended concession periods outlined in the documents, citing a Full Business Case proposing 50 years, while the agreement itself stipulated 80 years.
He questioned the nature of the transaction, asking if it constituted a land acquisition rather than a concession.
Concerns about labour rights were also at the forefront of the unions’ protest.
ANAP’s National President, Comrade Adedayo Alale emphasized that the Minister had previously pledged to resolve all labour issues before any concession agreements were finalized.
However, the unions contend that the circulated documents addressed legal matters without any prior consultation.
The unions specifically cited the advanced stage of the Enugu airport concession and the planned concessions for Port Harcourt and Kano airports as evidence of the government’s unilateral approach.
ATSSSAN’s 3rd National President, Comrade John Ogbe, clarified that the unions were not inherently opposed to concessions, but insisted on a transparent and inclusive process.
He criticized the current approach, contrasting it with previous concession plans where unions had the opportunity to review the Outline Business Case.
In a unified voice, the unions demanded that the government engage in meaningful dialogue with workers regarding the concession process.
They further resolved to push for the immediate implementation of the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage and the resolution of all outstanding Conditions of Service issues within the next two months.
