If there is anything unions in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN will like to see, it is for the management to commence the immediate review of all concession agreements entered into.
The unions, the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, ANAP say plans have been put in motion to pressure the FAAN management to commence the concession review and the increment in the passenger service charge, PSC.
The unions are of the opinion that agreements entered into by the agency was no longer in tandem with the realities of today.
The unions who made their positions known on the issues at the delegates conference of ANAP FAAN branch in Lagos attended by top management of FAAN including the Managing Director.
Director of Finance and Accounts, Mrs. Nike Aboderin represented by comrade Ade Kolawole urged the unions to support management in the area of revenue generation to ensure the comfort, safety and security of the airports.
“I want you to do more, you remember at a time, the union went all out to collect debts on behalf of FAAN , we have concessionaires in our airports, our staff have been working for Bicourtney since 2007, security and fire, they have never paid a kobo, the union is quiet on this, you are too silent on this. We need to more so that your salaries can be regular and in fact you can have more”.
Chairman of the FAAN pensioners, comrade Rasak Ope in his goodwill message said the unions must come together to assist the management of FAAN in debt recovery as mentioned by the Director Finance.
He said if their members were to be productivity, they need to be well paid and keep the facilities well maintained and upgraded for passengers safety, security and comfort.
According to him, many concessionaires were feeding fat on the agreement signed many years ago because the agreements have been skewed in their favour making FAAN a cash cow for them.
Comrade Ope cited the Bicoutney Aviation Services manager of the MM2 whom he said was indebted to FAAN to the tune of over N2 billion as the terminal owner was yet to pay a penny for the service rendered it by FAAN.
These includes fire cover, security, ” the minister has not one day say anything about the debtors, we have billions of Naira, Babalakin is there, for more than 7-8 years has paid less than N100-200 million”.
He added,”we have billions of Naira outside, over 9 years ago, we increased the PSC, up till now why? Bicourtney is collecting N2,500 and FAAN is still collecting N1,000 and people come out to say FAAN is not doing anything and the man (Babalakin) is not paying us for service rendered today”.
In his opening remarks, the Managing Director FAAN represented by the Director Engineering Services FAAN, Mr. Salisu Daura urged the unions to see management as partners in progress as management was also concerned about workers welfare.
“Unions are stakeholders, no matter how much we fight, nations fight wars but at the end of the day, how are things resolved, it is sitting down on the Roundtable to talk, so that is the advantage abnitio embarking on the path of peace because without peace, there will not be progress, ANAP nas been perceived to have a responsible leadership”.
Declaring the delegates conference open, the Manager South-West airports and airport manager, MMIA, Mrs. Victoria Shinaba applauded the unions for their cooperation and urged them to partner management to fulfill their mission and vision.
” our job as airport operator is to make the airport very conducive for both the passengers, airlines and every other person that use the airport”.
” All our stakeholders , we have a responsibility toward them, responsibility to serve them, so that at the end of the day, our core values of safety, security and comfort will be brought to bear in our place”.
In his address of welcome, the chairman ANAP FAAN branch, comrade Alale Adebayo listed some issues germane to staff happiness which ANAP was helping to fast track, these include fast tracking of promotion, retraining of staff and a new improved condition of Service.
He stated that the issue of airport concession would have adverse effects on the industry, adding that the Minister of State Aviation must realize that the battle was not yet over but with the solidarity support of other sister unions, “the struggle is still ongoing which by his grace we shall conquer”.
“We have made management to put smiles on the faces of our staff by conducting promotion exams within a reasonable period,we are not lagging behind in the pursuit of a new improved Condition of Service, CoS, though the exercise has not been completed, we will not rest in ensuring that this becomes a reality. No a Retreat No Surrender”.
Comrade Adebayo noted that the union had witnessed tremendous increase in the size of members, “virtually in all the sectors of aviation industry, for example in FAAN, over one thousand members were registered during the year under review”.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to the MD FAAN, Mrs. Victoria Shinaba, Director Finance and Accounts, comrade Abdulrazak Saidu, SG ANAP, GM Public Affairs Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu nd others.
